Erwin Schulhoff - Menschheit. Orchestral Works (Barbara Kozelj; Jun Märkl)

Information

Composer: Erwin Schulhoff

• Landschaften. Symphony for Mezzo-Soprano and Orchestra
• Menschheit. Symphony for Alto and Orchestra, Op. 28 WV 48
• Suite for Chamber Orchestra, Op. 37 WV 58
• Rondo a Capriccio in G Major, Op. 129 “Rage Over a Lost Penny”

Barbara Kozelj, mezzo-soprano

Residentie Orkest The Hague

Jun Märkl, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Challenge Classics

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Menschheit brings together Erwin Schulhoff’s deeply expressive post-World War I orchestral works, centered on the rediscovered vocal symphonies Landschaften and Menschheit. Drawing inspiration from Mahler while forging a distinct artistic voice, these visionary song cycles process wartime trauma to deliver a powerful message of human resilience and hope. Recorded live in the exceptional acoustics of Amare by the Residentie Orkest The Hague under conductor Jun Märkl, alongside acclaimed mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj, the album also highlights Schulhoff’s versatility with his jazz-influenced Suite for Chamber Orchestra and a lively orchestration of Beethoven’s Rage Over a Lost Penny, celebrating a major rediscovery in 20th-century music.

Slovenian mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj is an internationally acclaimed soloist celebrated for her expressive depth, vocal power, and extraordinary versatility across opera, concert, and recital repertoire. Trained at the Ljubljana Academy of Music and the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, she has performed on major global stages, including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Her operatic roles span Octavian, Mélisande, and Brangäne, while her concert work encompasses masterworks by Mahler, Berg, and Ligeti under conductors like Iván Fischer and Jun Märkl. Also a dedicated recitalist, Kozelj frequently collaborates on world premieres written specifically for her distinct artistic voice.

Jun Märkl is an internationally acclaimed conductor renowned for his refined interpretations of core German repertoire and French Impressionism. He currently serves as Music Director of the Taiwan Philharmonic and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the Residentie Orkest in The Hague, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Oregon Symphony. Trained by Sergiu Celibidache, Leonard Bernstein, and Seiji Ozawa, Märkl has led world-class ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Bavarian Radio Symphony, and major opera houses globally. Named a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, his legacy encompasses over 60 recordings and a deep commitment to mentoring young musicians through international festivals and youth initiatives.