Sterne steigen dort – Stars rise afar…

Rediscovering a great composer is possible with the new GENUIN CD of works by Maria Herz. She was born in Cologne in 1878 and died in New York in 1950. The singer Christiane Oelze, the Asasello-Quartett, and the E-MEX-Ensemble for New Music have partnered up to present a cross-section of the work of the Jewish composer, who used at times the pen name Albert Maria Herz. From arrangements of Bach to lieder as well as string quartets and mixed chamber music, the works span stylistically from the enthusiasm for baroque music of the 1920s to free tonality. All this is excitingly new, well worth hearing, and recorded superbly!

Deutschlandfunk Kultur
In her one-hour programme ‘Die besondere Aufnahme’ from 4 May 2024, Mascha Drost focuses on the composer Maria Herz and talks about the string quartets recorded by the Asasello Quartet.

nmz unüberhörbar
"Everyone should know this music, which is
is very demanding to perform." Review by Christoph Schlüren, April 1, 2024

O-Ton
Michael Zerban presents the album. The review from 29/02/2024 can be listened to here.

15 November 2023: The Album ist nominated for ICMA 2024 in the category Assorted Programs.


15 November 2023: Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Bestenliste 4/2023

"[...] The Asasello Quartet, the E-MEX Ensemble and Christiane Oelze explore this music with versatility, sensitivity and passion of the very highest level. It is good that the composer is finally being rediscovered." Statement by Elisabeth Richter, November 15, 2023

KlassikFestival
"[...] a not only commendable, but also convincing (re-)discovery of the composer Maria Herz." Review by Arnt Cobbers, October 29, 2023

The album has been choosen as recording of the Month September 2023 by MusicWeb International.

Fono Forum
"Everyone involved in this album is making music at the highest level and so we are in the fortunate position to get to know Herz's music in the best possible quality - and everyone should!" Review by Dorothee Riemer, November 2023 issue

05.10.2023: Nominated for the German Record Critics Award, Longlist 4/2023

kreuzer - Das Leipziger Stadtmagazin
"Respectful homage to the composer (Albert) Maria Herz." Review by Silke Peterson, 09/2023 issue

MusicWeb International
"This is a wonderful disc and a very welcome introduction to the music of Albert Maria Herz, and we hear superbly committed and well-recorded performances from all concerned." Review by Stephen Greenbank, 29.08.2023

DLF Kultur Tonart Klassik
Haino Rindler talks with Christiane Oelze and Justyna Sliwa about the new album "Sterne steigen dort..." in his Tonart Klassik broadcast on 28.08.2023.

The album receives the Supersonic Award from Pizzicato.

Pizzicato
"Christiane Oelze and the E-MEX Ensemble succeed in giving riveting performances of these outstanding songs. The Four Little Pieces and String Quartet are again performed by the Asasello Quartet, and the musicians plumb this music deeply. The fascinating art of nuance, the subtle play of color, make these two works something very special." Review from 10 July 2023

BBC Radio 3 Record Review
Gillian Moore presents the CD "Stars rise there..." in the broadcast Record Review, listen to it here from 39:10min: Broadcast from 9 July 2023