Johannes Brahms - Romanzen aus Tiecks Magelone (Gábor Bretz; Emese Virág)

Information

Composer: Johannes Brahms

• Romanzen aus Tiecks Magelone, Op. 33

Gábor Bretz, bass-baritone

Emese Virág, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Hungaroton

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Johannes Brahms’s song cycle Romanzen aus Tiecks Magelone, Op. 33, is presented in a new recording by bass-baritone Gábor Bretz and pianist Emese Virág. Based on Ludwig Tieck’s retelling of the medieval tale of Peter and Magelone, the fifteen songs form a cohesive narrative of love, separation, longing, and devotion, representing one of Brahms’ most expansive and emotionally nuanced vocal works. Recorded in Budapest at Rottenbiller Studio, this interpretation highlights the performers’ close artistic collaboration, combining expressive vocal characterization with sensitive pianistic support. The release offers a compelling reading of a rarely recorded cycle, emphasizing its dramatic scope and Romantic lyricism.

Gábor Bretz is a Hungarian bass-baritone and professor of singing at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, widely recognized for his extensive operatic and concert career. Since his early work with the Hungarian National Opera, he has performed leading roles across major international stages, including the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera, the Hamburg State Opera, and Teatro Massimo. His repertoire spans key dramatic bass-baritone roles in works by composers such as Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In addition to opera, he is active in concert performance, singing major works including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Verdi’s Requiem, and maintains an active teaching career in Budapest.

Emese Virág is a Hungarian pianist, accompanist, and pedagogue affiliated with the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where she serves as a coach and associate professor in the vocal department. A graduate of the academy, she has established an extensive international career as a collaborative pianist and soloist, performing across Europe, North America, and Asia. She is particularly noted for her work in vocal repertoire and contemporary music, frequently collaborating with leading singers and premiering new works. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple national honors, including the Liszt Ferenc Prize and the Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit, alongside numerous Artisjus Awards, and she has recorded extensively for Hungaroton, contributing to major projects involving composers such as Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály.

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