Emilie Zumsteeg: Des Freundes Wunsch (1817)

Des Freundes Wunsch (A Friend’s Wish) (1817) by Emilie Zumsteeg (1796-1857) Indictus Project Dana Varga, soprano Eunmi Ko, piano Emilie Zumsteeg manages to demonstrate a lot of originality and finesse in this short and sweet song of well-wishes. She hailed from Stuttgart and grew up in her mother’s music shop following the early death of her father (composer Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg). Emilie Zumsteeg made a name for herself as a music educator, singer, pianist, and conductor as well as composer. She surrounded herself with a circle of talented musicians and poets that influenced her song-centric compositional output. Her compositions were ahead of their time, and may have influenced the likes of Franz Schubert.