Silenced: Unsung Voices of the 20th Century, featuring tenor Ian Koziara and pianist Bradley Moore, shines a light on art songs by composers Franz Schreker, Vítězslava Kaprálová, Viktor Ullmann, and Alexander von Zemlinsky, whose musical achievements were overshadowed by the oppression of the Third Reich. This recording marks the first time many of these art songs, traditionally performed by sopranos, are being recorded in the tenor voice.

This recording explores the operatic and chromatically rich German harmonies of early 20th-century composers Franz Schreker (1878–1934) and Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871–1942), alongside the esoteric textures of Viktor Ullmann (1898–1944), who wrote his Hölderlin-Lieder and Drei Lieder, op.37, during his internment at the Terezín concentration camp.

Vítězslava Káprálová (1915–1940), the least known and shortest-lived composer on the programme, was a trailblazer as the first Czech woman to become a professional conductor and the first woman ever to conduct the Czech Philharmonic. Káprálová possessed extraordinary talent and technical virtuosity, and her passion for song and poetry are reflected on this programme in sets such as Dvě písně, op.4, and Jablko s klína, op.10. Tragically, Káprálová's career was cut short by her untimely death at the age of 25.

Described as “an exciting Wagner tenor” (New York Times) and “a wonderful artist” (Washington Post), Chicago native Ian Koziara has performed at leading venues including the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Glimmerglass, Teatro La Fenice, and Opéra National du Capitole, among others. He sings regularly at Oper Frankfurt, where he recently starred in Franz Schreker’s Der ferne Klang.

Bradley Moore has served as associate Music Director at the Houston Grand Opera and assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and Salzburg Festival. He has performed as a piano soloist with orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic, and has collaborated in recital with artists such as Renée Fleming and Susan Graham.

Silenced: Unsung Voices of the 20th Century was produced and engineered by the Grammy-winning team of James Ginsburg and Bill Maylone. It was recorded on 26–28 July 2023 in the Mary Patricia Gannon Concert Hall at DePaul University, Chicago, IL.