Alexander Zemlinsky (1871-1942) was born in Vienna in 1871, just three years before his lifelong friend and brother-in-law, Arnold Schoenberg. In fact, for a short while he taught Schoenberg and was his mentor. Unlike Schoenberg, Zemlinsky never abandoned tonality, remaining true to more traditional methods of composition. His music was, however, very much of its time and he was a well-respected member of Viennese musical life.

Zemlinsky never ventured much further than the late Romanticism of the early works of Schoenberg (Gurrelieder), Webern (Passacaglia, Op.1) and Berg (Seven Early Songs), and to all lovers of these works the music for voice and orchestra in this set will have an undeniable appeal.

Contents:
CD 1
- Waldgespräch
Soile Isokoski (soprano)
Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker / James Conlon

- Maiblumen blühten überall
Soile Isokoski (soprano), Torsten Janicke (violin), Rose Kaufmann (violin), Mile Kosi (viola), Urara Seo (viola), Daniel Cahen (cello), Sylvia Borg (cello)
Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker / James Conlon

- Zwei Gesänge für Bariton und Orchester
Andreas Schmidt (baritone)
Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker / James Conlon

- Sechs Gesänge, Op.13 nach Gedichten von Maurice Maeterlinck
Violeta Urmana (mezzo-soprano)
Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker / James Conlon

- Symphonische Gesänge, Op.20
Michael Volle (baritone)
Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker / James Conlon

CD 2
- Ländliche Tänze, Op.1
- Vier Balladen
- Fantasien über Gedichte von Richard Dehmel, Op.9
- Albumblatt (Erinnerung aus Wien)
- Skizze
- Fuge in G-moll
Siegfried Mauser (piano)