Dancing on a Volcano: Ensemble Modern Captures Weimar-Era Germany

Dancing on a Volcano is a live recording by Ensemble Modern, conducted by HK Gruber. It offers a snapshot of musical Germany between 1920 and 1933. The album includes works by four composers: Hindemith, Schoenberg, Weill, and Korngold, whose styles range from jazz-influenced pieces to neo-Romantic works. Gruber conducts these challenging compositions with skill and energy, bringing out their diverse character.

These composers faced rejection from the Nazi regime, which condemned their work as "too modern, too jazzy, too Jewish". All four eventually settled in America. The recording features vocalist Wallis Giunta and the male quartet Amarcord. Their performances capture the sharp wit and emotional depth of this remarkable music.

Sources: theguardian.com