The moth (Nattfjärilen) , originally written by Jules Sylvain for Zarah Leander in Karl Gerhard's revue, Tidens ansikte (Face of the time). It was recorded in various versions. Of the versions I've heard this orchestration is the best one. I'm not surprised since Paul Godwin (1902-1982) was one of the most competent orchestra leaders in old Weimar republic. But his bright shining star was soon to fell down, in 1933 he had to escape since he had Jewish background, sadly, like for many other great artists, the Nazis destroyed a fantastic career and we can only fantasize about the development that could have been possible in Berlin, if not...
The text is about the bad women, flattering around the candle light in the night, like the moth, outgoing to the night-life in the cities, something in those years, still rather controversial and filled with sin. Something today, far from the common opinion.
Hilmer Borgeling (1903-1969) one of the most productive Swedish singers did a lot of recordings for Vox and Polyphon in Berlin in late twenties and early thirties, this is one of those recordings.
Recorded in Berlin dec 1931.
