Friedrich Cerha, whose monumental Spiegel cycle and his completion of Alban Berg’s Lulu have secured him a place amongst the most eminent composers of our time, celebrates his 95th birthday on 17 February 2021. This album presents two of his lesser known very typical Viennese works, featuring chansonnier HK Gruber. While somehow in the tradition of the local music played at the Heurigen, both pieces dig deep into the musical and spiritual soul of Vienna’s folk and art music. This extraordinary album celebrates an extraordinary composer who has been a KAIROS artist since the label’s beginning. The album also marks the 100th release since KAIROS joined the paladino label group, thus making it a double Viennese celebration.

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Recording: ORF Funkhaus, Vienna / Austria, 22 June 1984, 20 June 1993.