Antikrist - 1988 German His Masters Voice/EMI label 2LP Set

Scarce 1988 German pressed His Masters Voice/EMI label 2LP set featuring spirited but troubled and very original and complex Danish composers "philosophical-religious opera about the decline and (spiritual) fall of western civilization" - a "warning against all-pervasive egoism and materialism at the expense of the spiritual values of existence"*. The core message is that the opening towards the divine goes through this consciousness.

The quite experimental opera was rejected by the Copenhagen Royal Theater in its original version in 1925 and in its rewritten version in 1935. Today 'Antikrist' is considered Langgaard's principal work and is included in the Danish Culture Canon.

Vinyl has generic design company labels with black centre and red rimprint. Labels have small top boxed 'Nipper' logo and lower boxed EMI logo as an integral part of the rimprint.

Vinyls are held in a gatefold picture cover with internally attached 4-page illustrated libretto with lyrics in Danish and German - inner spread features extensive liner notes in Danish and English.

Condition: 2xM- (Vinyl and Labels)/VG++ (Cover):

Vinyls are bright and shiny - has been used directly from paper inner sleeves and has subsequently a light degree of sleeve wear only.
Labels are mint - vinyl overall graded near mint.

Cover has only minor signs of handling or storage - faint corners rubbing, a touch of superficial creasing and wrinkling - graded near mint overall.

Tracklisting:

Side 1:

Antikrist:

1. Akt:
1. Forspil (Larmens Kirkeøde)/Vorspiel/Prelude 5:29
2. Prolog (Dyret Fra Afgrunden) 4:40
3. Forspil Til 1. Billede 1:33
4. Første Billede/First scene (Vildsomhedens Lys/Licht der Ratlosigkeit/The Light of the Wilderness 13:18
a. Con Moto
b. Poco Lento
c. Fesivo Danza

Side 2:

Forspil Til 2. Billede 6:40
1. 2. Billede/Second scene (Hoffærdigheden/ Die Hoffart/ Vainglory) 5:32

Forspil Til 3. Billede 1:03
2. 3. Billede/Third scene (Håbløsheden (Mismodet)/Die Hoffnungslosigkeit/Despair) 4:21

II Akt:
Forspil Til 4. Billede 2:47
3. 4. Billede/4rth Scene (Begærligheden/Die Begierte/Lust) 9:25
a. Moderato
b. Lento Misterioso
c. Poco Moderato

Forspil Til 5. Billede 1:40

Side 3:

1. 5. Billede/5th Scene (Alles Strid Mod Alle/ Streit Aller Gegen Alle/ Every Man's strife with every Man) 18:06
a. Lento
b. Lento Mysteriosoc. Con Moto Agitato
d. Con Moto

Forspil Til 6. Billede 1:25
2. 6. Billede/6th Scene (Fortabelsen/ Die Verdammnis/ Perdition 6:32
a. En Stemme
b. Lento
c. Movibile Angelico

Side 4:

Symfoni Nr. 6/Symphony No. 6:

1. Det Himmelrivende (Antikrist Symfonien) 20:16

1. Tema (Versione 1)
2. Tema (Versione 2)
3. Variation 1
4. Variation 2
5. Variation 3
6. Variation 4
7. Variation 5

'Antikrist' was recorded live 10 & 11 December, 1986, at Tivoli, Copenhagen.

Symfoni Nr. 6 was recorded 3. November 1987 at Odd Fellow Palæet, Copenhagen.

Credits:

Ole Schmidt - Conducter
Sjællands Symfoniorkester/Copenhagen Philharmonic - Orchestra

Edith Guillaume - Gådestemningen / Spirit Of Mystery
Else Mogensen - Gådestemningens Ekko /Echo Of Spirit Of Mystery
Kaj Hansen - Munden Der Taler Store Ord / The Mouth Speaking Great Things
Minna Nyhus - Mismodet & En Mystisk Stemme/ Mystical Voice
Margrethe Danielsen - Den Store Skøge / The Great Whore
Kåre Bjørkøy - Løgnen / The Lie & Dyret I Skarlagen / The Scarlet Beast
Lars Waage - Hadet / Hate
Jørgen Klint - Lucifer
Torben Hundahl - Guds Stemme / The Voice Of God
Roskilde Koret
Jørgen Haldor Hansen - Korindstuderingen

Technical Credits:
Peter Willemoes - Production, Balance Engineer

Artwork:
Signorelli, Orvieto - Front Cover Fresco