Szabó Balázs - Reger: The Chorale Fantasies (2016)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Choralfantasie für Orgel in C Minor, Op. 27: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
02. Choralfantasie für Orgel, Op. 30: Freu' dich sehr, o meine Seele
03. Choralfantasie für Orgel, Op. 40: No. 1, Wie schön leucht' uns der Morgenstern
04. Choralfantasie für Orgel, Op. 40: No. 2, Straf' mich nicht in deinem Zorn

CD2
01. Choralfantasie für Orgel, Op. 52: No. 1, Alle Menschen müssen sterben
02. Choralfantasie für Orgel, Op. 52: No. 2, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
03. Choralfantasie für Orgel, Op. 52: No. 3, Hallelujah! Gott zu loben!
04. Choralfantasie für Orgel, Op. 25: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

Max Reger is regarded as the most important German composer of organ music since Johann Sebastian Bach. His chorale fantasias of magnificent scope have contributed significantly to his rank; without denying historical relations, they create an entirely new formal and harmonic dimension in music.

For his new release featuring all seven fantasias the Hungarian virtuoso Balázs Szabó has selected three outstanding instruments in Vienna, Giengen, and Zurich documenting the rapid development in modern organ design during Reger’s lifetime.

Szabó has carefully selected just the right instruments for Reger’s music. The Walcker organ in Vienna’s Votive Church has mechanical cone-valve chests and is from 1887. The organ by the Link Brothers from 1906 in Giengen and the Kuhn organ from 1914 in St. Anthony’s Church in Zurich have pneumatic cone-valve chests. Today this instrument also operates with the originally intended echo unit installed behind the altar.

Multichannel reproduction with 2+2+2 recording technology enables it to be heard advantageously from precisely this position and with very fine room effects.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]