Hidden Treasure: Hans Gál’s Unpublished Lieder

Hans Gál • Christian Immler (bass‑baritone); Helmut Deutsch (piano)

About this release

In his early twenties Hans Gál composed dozens of songs, most of which he set aside and never published. Thanks to the persistence of baritone Christian Immler and pianist Helmut Deutsch — and the support of the composer’s family — twenty‑six of these “laid‑aside” lieder now receive their first recording. Complemented by the five songs of Op. 33 (Gál’s only published song cycle), this recital traces Gál’s apprenticeship in the German song tradition, revealing a composer steeped in Schubert, Brahms and Wolf yet already finding his own harmonic colours and poetic moods. The recording was produced by Gál’s grandson Simon Fox‑Gál and was made in April 2016 in Cologne.

Where to buy or listen

• ArkivMusic product page
• Presto Music

What critics said

So writes MusicWeb International, praising how Christian Immler and Helmut Deutsch bring these forgotten songs vividly to life. BBC Music Magazine also admired the release, describing it as “a treasure‑trove of songs in the tradition of Richard Strauss, melodically radiant and full of sensitivity to atmosphere,” with Immler’s expansive tone and Deutsch’s pianism ideally suited to the material.

Further context

The songs on this disc were written between 1910 and 1921, when Gál was honing his voice as a songwriter before turning to opera and orchestral music. By bringing these early works to light, Immler and Deutsch not only uncover a missing chapter in Gál’s development but also reveal a trove of beautifully crafted miniatures that stand alongside the better‑known Op. 33 set.