VA - Wolfgang Jacobi 125: Live at Megève Festival Savoy Truffle (2019)

Released to coincide with the composer’s 125th birthday, the works on this album by Wolfgang Jacobi were performed and (with the exception of the String Quartet) recorded at the Megeve Festival Savoy Truffle by artists including Andreas Skouras, Orchestra des Pays de Savoie, Sandor Karolyi, Arditti Quartet, Marion Grange and others.

The music of Wolfgang Jacobi (1894-1972) is worth (re)discovering. Born on the island of Rugen in Germany, he pursued university studies and worked in Berlin until his music was banned by the Nazis. Following a brief exile in Italy he resettled in Munich in 1935 where he played a significant role in the public music scene of the post-war era.

Jacobi had a pronounced affinity for instruments considered unusual at the time such as the harpsichord, saxophone, and especially the accordion, his use of which is pioneering in contemporary music.

In 2018, the Megeve Festival Savoy Truffle dedicated a series of performances to Jacobi’s music using prominent musicians. These performances, which include a world premiere recording of Jacobi’s string quartet by the Arditti Quartet, are now being released on NEOS to commemorate his 125th birthday.

Andreas Skouras (harpsichord), Marion Grange (voice), Ambroise de Rancourt (piano), Dimitri Bouclier (accordion)

Sándor Károlyi, Pierre-André Krummenacher