An Die Hoffnung / Hymnus Der Liebe / Alt-Rhapsodie / Rückert-Lieder

Released in 1969 by the East German state-owned label ETERNA, this collection brings together significant works of the late Romantic German repertoire. The recording features the mezzo-soprano Annelies Burmeister alongside the Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig and the Rundfunkchor Leipzig, conducted by Heinz Bongartz. It serves as a representative example of the label's commitment to documenting the Central European classical tradition during the mid-20th century.

The album was produced in the context of the German Democratic Republic's state-sponsored cultural output, which placed a high premium on technical precision and the preservation of major German orchestral works. The design reflects the austere and minimalist aesthetic characteristic of ETERNA’s catalog from that era, prioritizing the clarity of the musical program over decorative art. Upon its release, it was regarded as a solid contribution to the discography of Burmeister, whose voice was highly esteemed in the GDR for its depth and clarity in Mahlerian and Brahmsian compositions.