Märchen-Suite

The conductor Michael Gielen who directed the first performances of both of Zimmermann’s principle works, Die Soldaten and Requiem für einen jungen Dichter, and other compositions, referred to Bernd Alois Zimmermann as the “last of the great composers who could achieve everything”. His comprehensive technical ability which permitted him to work within a wide variety of stylistic directions and genres is remarkable. With his sense of virtually Impressionist orchestral sound, Zimmermann conjures up the charm of an ancient, almost forgotten fairy tale world in the Prologue to the Märchen-Suite [Fairy Tale Suite] and subsequent movements such as Das verwunschene Schloss [The Enchanted Castle].