Felix Draeseke’s works immediately reveal that he was a glowing admirer of Liszt and Wagner and a remarkably gifted creator of expressive harmonic designs and far-ranging melodic lines. Here Draeseke accomplished the feat of combining these powerful expressive means with classical forms.

This 2-CD set is a repackaging of the original CDs, available now at the special price of 2 for 1. At Claudius Tanski’s touch, Draeseke’s Piano Concerto is transformed into a magnificent miracle of colour with breathtaking tones situated between rosy fragrance and feverish madness. Today even classical music experts don’t know quite how to describe Draeseke, but during his lifetime he was most highly esteemed. The great Richard Strauss premiered Draeseke’s prologue to Kleist’s Penthesilea (also included on this recording), and his own music was strongly influenced by Draeseke.