Explore the vibrant and often turbulent musical landscape of 1920s-1940s Germany with this compelling opera and song recital. This recording captures the era's unique blend of classical traditions, popular rhythms, and early jazz, showcasing songs that masked melancholy and sharp political commentary behind seemingly cheerful melodies.

The signature sound of Berlin, the 'Prussian swing'—fusing rigid marching rhythms with jazz syncopation—is brought to life, reflecting a society caught between vitality and despair. Experience a colorful mix of energetic cabaret chansons, somber ballads, lyricism, and operetta numbers that reveal the underlying sadness beneath the glamour.

Renowned and versatile mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter delivers this program, accompanied by the Salon Orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin under the direction of Adam Benzwi.

• Features songs spanning lyricism, nonsense, seriousness, beautiful melodies, and operetta numbers.
• Performance captures the tension and rebellion of the Weimar awakening through the collapse of the Third Reich.
• Language: German.

The music reflects a cultural seismograph of its time, demonstrating how artists found beauty and humor amid adversity during profound upheaval.

This BIS release, featuring Anne Sofie von Otter, Adam Benzwi, and the Salon Orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin, offers an essential journey into the cabaret and exile songs of Berlin.