Gisela May - Singt Erich Kästner (1968)

Gisela May (May 31, 1924 in Wetzlar - December 2, 2016) was a distinguished German character actress of theatre and a singer, critically acclaimed for performing the songs written by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill.

"Was aber die May und ihre außergewöhnliche Wandlungsfähigkeit ihren Reichtum an Nuancen und Schattierungen betrifft so wäre man wohl versucht .. von einem Ensemble zu sprechen selbst wenn es in diesem Falle (unser Glück!) nur aus einer Frau besteht - einer Frau die freilich mehr zu bieten hat als sieben andere." (Lothar Kusche)

Emil Erich Kästner (23 February 1899 in Dresden – 29 July 1974 in Munich) was a German author, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known for his humorous, socially astute poetry and children's literature.

Kästner was a pacifist and humanist, he wrote for children because of his belief in the regenerating powers of youth. He was opposed to the Nazi regime in Germany that began on 30 January 1933 and was one of the signatories to the "Urgent Call for Unity". However, unlike many of his fellow authors critical of the dictatorship, Kästner did not emigrate. Kästner did travel to Meran and to Switzerland just after the Nazis assumed power, and he met with exiled fellow writers there. However, Kästner returned to Berlin, arguing that he could chronicle the times better from there. It is probable that Kästner also wanted to avoid abandoning his mother. The Gestapo interrogated Kästner several times, and the writer´s guild excluded him. The Nazis burnt Kästner´s books as "contrary to the German spirit" during the infamous book burnings of May 10, 1933, which was instigated by the then Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Kästner witnessed the event in person.

After the Second World War  Kästner remained a pacifist, speaking at the antimilitarist Ostermarsch demonstrations that protested the stationing of nuclear weapons in West Germany. He later also took a stand against the Vietnam War.

He was a critical chronist of his times - this 1968 recording by Gisela May with Henry Krtschil and his studio orchestra gives evidence of his socio-critical humour.

Tracklist:

Side 1:
KOPERNIKANISCHE CHARAKTERE GESUCHT (1940)
MODERNES MÄRCHEN (1928)
ANSPRACHE EINER BARDAME (1928)
HÖHERE TÖCHTER IM GESPRÄCH (1930)
CHOR DER GIRLS (1929)
SACHLICHE ROMANZE (1929)
EINE MUTTER ZIEHT BILANZ (1929)
DAS LIED, GENANNT „ZUR SELBEN STUNDE" (1952)


Side 2 :
DAS LEBEN OHNE ZEITVERLUST (1946)
KLASSENZUSAMMENKUNFT (1928)
DIE DAME SCHREIBT DER DAME (1931)
DAS LIED VOM KLEINEN MANN (1931)
KENNST DU DAS LAND, WO DIE KANONEN BLÜHEN (1928)
FANTASIE VON ÜBERMORGEN (1929) (Musik: Paul Dessau)

Gisela May - Singt Erich Kästner (1968)
(256 kbps, cover art included)