Robbert Muuse & Micha van Weers - Rontgen: Alle Lust will Ewigkeit

This selection from Julius R�ntgen's extensive song repertoire represents an important new step towards a revaluation of his total oeuvre and the unlocking of Dutch musical heritage in general. � Jurriaan R�ntgen (composer's grandson)The Dutch baritone Robbert Muuse and pianist Micha van Weers perform songs by the prolific German-Dutch composer Julius R�ntgen, another figure who thrived in the first half of 20th century whose music deserves to be rediscovered by today's audiences. He wrote several collections of lieder, here presented in their world premiere recordings.Julius R�ntgen was born in Leipzig in 1855 (his father was concertmaster of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra) but moved to Amsterdam to teach piano in 1878, eventually taking Dutch nationality in 1920. As pianist, conductor, concert organiser and co-founder of the first conservatory in Amsterdam, he was one of pillars of a developing musical life in the Netherlands. These selections of lieder are all from his Dutch period.R�ntgen was in much demand from the outset of his career as a lieder accompanist, meeting the Dutch baritone Johannes Messchaert in 1881. He showed a warm interest in R�ntgen's music and a deep friendship grew between them in addition to their stage relationship that would last for over 30 years. The Messchaert-R�ntgen evenings, in which lieder alternated with piano solo pieces, were much loved (by Brahms amongst others), and some of the songs recorded here, including the opening cycle of Middle Dutch poems, Amoreuse Liedekens, were premiered by them.