Jan van Gilse - Sulamith; Der Kreis des Lebens (Stanislav Kochanovsky; James Gaffigan)

Information

Composer: Jan van Gilse

• Sulamith
• Der Kreis des Lebens

Sumi Hwang, soprano

Denzil Delaere, tenor

Thomas Oliemans, baritone

Elena Tsallagova, soprano

Benjamin Bruns, tenor

Groot Omroepkoor

Radio Filharmonisch Orkest

Stanislav Kochanovsky & James Gaffigan, conductord

Date: 2025

Label: CPO

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After completing his studies in Cologne in 1902, Jan van Gilse turned to a dramatic scene based on Prince Erich von Schönaich-Carolath’s prose poem Sulamith, portraying Satan’s realization that love persists despite his efforts. Alongside his prize-winning First Symphony, this work reflects van Gilse’s deep personal convictions. His career was marked by tension between his German musical training and Dutch audiences’ tastes, leaving him combative, vulnerable, and often misunderstood. Even his expressive Circle of Life after Rilke, completed in 1929, waited nearly a century for proper performance and recognition. At last, the composer’s achievement has been acknowledged.

Jan van Gilse (1881–1944) was a Dutch composer and conductor whose career spanned Germany and the Netherlands. Trained in Cologne and later under Engelbert Humperdinck in Berlin, he held early conducting posts in Bremen and with the North Netherlands Opera. He helped found the Society of Dutch Composers in 1911 and later chaired the Music Copyright Bureau. His tenure with the Utrecht City Orchestra ended in 1921 after public criticism, prompting a renewed focus on composition. Van Gilse’s style evolved from late German Romanticism toward a more individual voice with French influences. His major works include symphonies, songs, and operas, earning prizes in Bonn and Munich.