The fate of the lovesick monk Ekkehard unfolds against the historical background of the battle against heathenism and the Hunnish invasion - things which the broad and lavish grand-opera framework not only justifies but virtually demands. Abert set this very motley text to music in such a way that each of the various worlds and situations is given its appropriate expression, emulating "just about all the styles represented in opera today". However, his approach is not one of simple eclecticism; the entire work is set in the fully individual tonal language he had developed in his previous operas. The young tenor Jonas Kaufmann with his brilliant timbre had the best requirements to present the main-role in this nearly unknown opera. This production was one of the first recordings in general for him, now re-mastered and new released again.