Schulhoff: Menschheit (Orchestral Works) – Jun Märkl

Erwin Schulhoff’s Menschheit brings together some of the Czech composer’s most compelling and deeply personal orchestral works, written in the aftermath of the First World War. At its heart are the rediscovered vocal symphonies Landschaften et Menschheit, visionary song cycles that reflect on loss, renewal, spirituality and the fate of humanity through richly expressive poetry and sumptuous orchestral colours. Influenced by Mahler yet unmistakably individual, these works reveal Schulhoff at a pivotal moment in his artistic development, transforming the trauma of war into music of profound emotional depth, culminating in a message of hope and human resilience.

Performed by the Residentie Orkest The Hague under the direction of Jun Märkl, with mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj, this live recording also showcases Schulhoff’s dazzling stylistic versatility through his jazz-inspired Suite for Chamber Orchestra and his exuberant orchestration of Beethoven’s beloved Rage Over a Lost Penny. Recorded in the exceptional acoustics of Amare in The Hague – one of Europe’s most modern and inspiring concert halls and home of the Residentie Orkest – this album celebrates both the rediscovery of a remarkable musical voice and the artistic excellence of one of the Netherlands’ leading orchestras.