Clytus Gottwald possessed the special gift of translating the most diverse vocal-soloistic-instrumental compositions into pure, polyphonic choral sound. He was rightly apostrophised by the press as the father of modern choral singing. At the center of this recording with the Kammerchor Stuttgart under the direction of Frieder Bernius are ten songs by Richard Strauss, to which Gottwald breathes a choral soul with seemingly infinite creativity. The recording is complemented by Gottwald's 16-part transcription of Gustav Mahler's "Adagietto" from the 5th Symphony—a true miracle of sound. And the recording also includes an original composition: Friede auf Erden (Peace on Earth), one of the few choral works of the Second Viennese School, is performed on the 150th anniversary of Arnold Schönberg's birth. With this program, the Kammerchor Stuttgart once again proves itself to be one of the best ensembles of its kind.