Weißes Gold (Amiga 855636, 1978, reissued in 1993, 2002 and 2006)
Weißes Gold (White Gold) is one of the great symphonic progressive rock albums of the 1970s. Stern-Combo Meissen was an East German rock band formed in Meissen (Saxony). By the mid-70s the group had evolved into a memorable progressive rock sound featuring two keyboardists, which immediately brought comparisons to the sounds of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman.
Stern-Combo Meissen developed a fabulous combination of modern rock music and classical music, with a rich German classical music influence. Lothar Kramer and Thomas Kurzhals treat the listener to a wide range of keyboard sounds, from spectacular synthesizer solos to dreamy atmospheres and majestic organ.
Weißes Gold revolves around the theme of alchemy, gold making and the life of Johann Friedrich Böttger, a well known German alchemist who was the first European to discover the valuable secret of the creation of porcelain.
The lineup included Martin Schreier who is credited as group leader; Reinhard Fißler on lead vocals; Norbert Jäger on percussion, vocals; Lothar Kramer on keyboards, vocals; Thomas Kurzhals on keyboards; Werther Lohse on drums, vocals; and Bernd Fiedler on bass. Guests include narrator Ernst Kahler; the Hanns Eisler Symphony Orchestra of the Hochscule of Music in Berlin, conducted by Horst Föster; and the Choir of ”Feliks Dzierzynski” Guards Regimen.
Weißes Gold is highly recommended for fans of keyboard-oriented symphonic progressive rock.