Béla Kéler: Songs

Marianna Pillárová - soprano (1-2, 4-5, 7-13, 15)

Jakub Tolaš - baritone (3, 5-6, 14)

Marie Horáčková - piano (1-15)

  • 1 Ich bleibe Dein
  • 2 Schlummerlied, Op. 10
  • 3 Abendgebet
  • 4 Ohne Dich
  • 5 Lied vom Grafen O'Donnell
  • 6 Illusion
  • 7 Ein Ton aus Deiner Kehle, Op. 9
  • 8 Ach liebste, wenn ich bei Dir bin, Op. 103
  • 9 Schau dir gern ins liebe Auge
  • 10 Wanderlied, Op. 23
  • 11 Mondlied
  • 12 Rauenthaler Berglied
  • 13 Árva lány haj, Op. 38
  • 14 Bass-Arie im italienischen Stil
  • 15 Come palpita il mio cor, Op. 61

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The project was supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council.

  • Kéler composed the song Kéler composed the song Ich bleibe Dein in 1845 when he was working in Vienna. On top of the manuscript´s frontpage he noted: "it is my first song". He dedicated it to his niece Amanda Schréter, the only daughter of Kéler´s sister Friederike. The text for this and three other songs have been written by the doctor Theodor Bakody with whom Friederike was married. 
  • Kéler dedicated the song Schlummerlied, Op. 10 to Miss Pauline von Szontagh in Vienna. In the text of Theodor Bakody an unknown lover sings a lullaby to his beloved, whom he calls his child, because he hopes at least in his dreams she can belong only to him. The song was edited 1853 by the Viennese publisher H.F. Miller´s Witwe. 
  • The manuscript of the song Abendgebet is contained in the National Széchenyi Library in Budapest. It´s frontpage is signed by the composer with the pseudonym Béla Kéler, which he used since 1854. The author of the text is Theodor Bakody. 
  • Kéler finished the song Ohne Dich, which remained a manuscript, at 21st of January 1851 in Vienna. Although it has no dedication, we proceed, the text of Theodor Bakody pays homage to his daughter Amanda Schréter. 
  • The German poet of Czech origin Rudolf Hirsch published in his collection of poems "Voices of the people" a poem the Lied vom Grafen O'Donnell, on which the song of the same name by Kéler is based. O´Donnell became famous by preventing the assassination of emperor Franz Joseph I in February 1853. 
  • The manuscript of the intimate, lyrical song Illusion remained in two versions by Kéler. The first version was finished in winter 1848/49. The second version was written on 2nd July 1874 in Wiesbaden, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his brother Peter´s death. He is the author of the text, who died 1849 as officer in the Austrian army fighting near Komárno. 
  • Kéler dedicated the song Ein Ton aus Deiner Kehle, Op. 9 to the author of the text, Rudolf Hirsch, mentioning "most kindly dedicated to the poet of the labyrinth of love". The version for voice and piano was edited 1853 by the Viennese publisher C.A. Spina. The orchestral version remained a manuscript and is contained in the Šariš-museum in Bardejov. 
  • The song Ach liebste, wenn ich bei Dir bin, Op. 103 is based on a poem of Rudolf Hirsch. It is a composition from Kéler´s youth for voice and piano, which was edited in July 1877 by the Berlin publisher Bote & Bock. Kéler orchestrated the song during his last stay in Bardejov-Spa in august 1880. 
  • The song Schau dir gern ins liebe Auge, which was composed in Vienna 1851, is contained in the National Széchenyi Library in Budapest as a revised version from 17th January 1874. The text´s author is Adolf Frankenburg. 
  • The song Wanderlied, op. 23 describes the journey of a vagabond with his rucksack and stick, who happily follows his way, enjoys the sun and isn´t concerned about love. The author of the text is Uffo Horn. The song was edited in December 1857 by the Viennese publisher C. A. Spina. 
  • The song Mondlied expresses a longing for a lost homeland. It is contained in the Šariš-Museum in Bardejov as an undated manuscript. The author of the German text is Alexander Patuzzi. 
  • The song Rauenthaler Berglied remained in two undated manuscripts for voice and piano by Kéler. The poem by Friedrich Hornseck celebrates Rauenthal, the German vine-village of highest altitude in the area of Rheingau. 
  • The song Árva lány haj, op. 38 based on a text by Sándor Petöfi, is composed in the style of Hungarian Czardas. It was published in February 1860 by Ròzsavölgy. 
  • The manuscript of the Bass-Arie im italienischen Stil is not dated, the text´s author unknown. It starts with a lyrical andante, the last climax of the aria is the rhythmical Cabaletta. 
  • The concert-waltz Come palpita il mio cor, op. 61 for soprano and orchestra was composed for Clara Perl, the soloist of the hessian court-opera. The unsigned text exists in Italian and German language. The waltz was edited in the version for voice and piano in November 1864 by the publisher B. Schott´s & Sons.