The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Kirill Karabits, together with an outstanding cast led by Corinne Winters in the title role, present the world premiere recording of Thomas de Hartmann's long-lost opera "Esther." "Esther" was written and composed during the Nazi occupation of Paris, often by candlelight, when de Hartmann—a non-Jewish Ukrainian émigré—witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust. He recognized parallels between these events and the Biblical story of Esther, as dramatized in Jean Racine's play, from whose text he adapted the libretto.

"Esther" may well be the only major musical work composed during that period as a direct artistic response to the Holocaust. It has been a rewarding endeavor to bring this long-neglected work back to life, involving extensive study of the composer's orchestral manuscript and the preparation of a new modern performance edition. This process required thorough examination of de Hartmann's orchestration and stylistic language. "Esther" is a remarkable work that bridges opera and oratorio. The dramatic scope is characterized by long monologues, choral commentary, and a triumphant closing ensemble. It is richly orchestrated and reflects the entire spectrum of de Hartmann's artistic development—from his early training in Saint Petersburg and the influence of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Anton Arensky, and Serge Taneyev to his later creative periods in Munich and France and his quest for a deeply personal musical language. "Esther," the largest and most ambitious late work by the composer, is a synthesis of his eclectic, polystylistic approach and a compelling rediscovery for contemporary performers and listeners.

This album is part of a Thomas de Hartmann series aimed at reintroducing the music of this composer.