At the heart of this album is a musical triptych inspired by a letter written by Vilma Grunwald saying goodbye to her husband just moments before she and her son John were killed in the Auschwitz gas chamber.
Marion von Tilzer, Bella Adamova, Maya Fridman, Belinfante Quartet, Michael Hesselink & Jacobus Thiele
Into Eternity
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About the album
At the heart of this album is a musical triptych inspired by a letter written by Vilma Grunwald saying goodbye to her husband just moments before she and her son John were killed in the Auschwitz gas chamber.
It is a story of absolute sadness, yet it speaks to us of the human capacity for love, it speaks of courage, trust and confidence as told by a woman facing her death in the Holocaust. Vilma shines a light on the very core of what it means to accept circumstance without losing the belief in life’s beauty or hope in its goodness — trusting wholeheartedly that love carries us through and beyond the end.
When Marion von Tilzer became aware of Vilma’s moving letter, she immediately felt inspired to set it to music. The composition has three movements: Out of the Dark, The Letter of Vilma Grunwald, and Hajej, můj andílku, an arrangement of a traditional Czech lullaby. Through this music, the voice of Vilma Grunwald resonates once again. Around the triptych, which forms the core of the album, Marion created five more compositions. All eight pieces are related to the contrast between dark and light, which in the last piece Into Eternity dissolves into shimmering sounds of bells and piano.
Sharon Levinson
Tracklist click to play/pause
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Marion von Tilzer
Out of the Dark
11:16
11:16
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Marion von Tilzer
The Letter of Vilma Grunwald
11:11
11:11
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Marion von Tilzer
Hajej, můj andílku
3:20
3:20
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Marion von Tilzer
Song for Mira
4:02
4:02
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Marion von Tilzer
I Heard This in My Dream
5:06
5:06
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Marion von Tilzer
The Day the Light Came
3:40
3:40
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Marion von Tilzer
Girl Finds a Bright Spot in a Dark World
5:26
5:26
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Marion von Tilzer
Into Eternity
8:19
8:19
More information
| Label | TRPTK |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | Classical – Contemporary (> 1920) |
| Artist(s) | Belinfante Quartet Bella Adamova Jacobus Thiele Marion von Tilzer Maya Fridman Michael Hesselink |
| Composer(s) | Tilzer, Marion von |
| Recording location(s) | Galaxy Studios, Mol (BE) |
| Recording date(s) | December 2022 |
| Cat. No. | TTK 0104 |
|---|---|
| Release date |
April 28th, 2023 |
| Additional links |
Tech specs
| Microphones | Josephson C617 w/ Gefell MK221 capsules (main) |
|---|---|
| Microphone preamps | Grace Design m801mk2 |
| AD/DA conversion | Merging Technologies Hapi |
| Recording resolution | DSD 11.2MHz 1bit |
| Mastering resolution | PCM 352.8kHz 64bit |
| Monitoring (recording) | KEF LS50 |
| Monitoring (mastering) | KEF Blade Two |
| Cabling | Furutech custom microphone cables |
"However difficult it may be to place the terrible, gruesome and bizarre in an aesthetic framework, the whole nevertheless proved to be the pervasive reflection of an indefinable state of mind that leaves the abstract far behind without, however, lapsing into unwanted effect chasing. Vocal and instrumental contributions lived up to that in extraordinarily impressive fashion. The recording is superb: strictly clear and colourful."
Aart van der Wal, Opus Klassiek
"This release is more than a compelling musical experience; it is a document that no one should miss."
Adrian Quanjer, HRAudio
"In the song the words of the letter are sung by the rich contralto voice of Bella Adamova, whose sincere delivery of Von Tilzer’s touching evocation of sadness and resignation is the most affecting track on the disc. The composer captures the emotional mood of the letter with simplicity while her transparent scoring of the piece conveys the deep love and resignation found in Vilma’s note. The vocalist has been recorded at a slight distance from the microphones; this gives the impression that Vilma is singing to the listener from just beyond this world, and adds to the emotional journey of the experience."
Len Mullenger, MusicWeb International
"To say that von Tilzer has created a recording of poetic depth and musical beauty only begins to capture it. As grounded in her compositions as it is, however, Into Eternity derives a huge measure of its impact from the exceptional playing by her partners, Fridman first and foremost."
Ron Schepper, Textura
"In listening to this album, I encourage you to find your quiet, dark, happy space and distance yourself from all distractions. When I did this, the music simply drew me in, enveloped me, and totally engaged my mind and spirit. I don't often say this of recordings, but this is one that fully rewards the effort."
Rushton Paul, Positive Feedback
"From the dark turmoil of the opening movement, Von Tilzer allows the sung letter to rise slowly — with soft strings and the heartbeat of the piano — from the muck of Auschwitz. And in the final movement, she recaptures innocence from hatred and evil through the simplicity of a lullaby, a beautiful dialogue between alto Bella Adamova and Maya Fridman's drifting cello."
Joost Galema, NRC (Album of the Week & 4th Best Album of the Year)
"In the song the words of the letter are sung by the rich contralto voice of Bella Adamova, whose sincere delivery of Von Tilzer’s touching evocation of sadness and resignation is the most affecting track on the disc. The composer captures the emotional mood of the letter with simplicity while her transparent scoring of the piece conveys the deep love and resignation found in Vilma’s note. The vocalist has been recorded at a slight distance from the microphones; this gives the impression that Vilma is singing to the listener from just beyond this world, and adds to the emotional journey of the experience."
Mike Parr, MusicWeb International
