Schumann's Lieder

[Verena]

There is also a beautiful recording on CFP with the tenor Ian Partridge.

That one looks terrific indeed.

[Luke]

There is also a beautiful recording on CFP with the tenor Ian Partridge.

I'm glad you mentioned that one - I always feel like maybe I'm wrong to like it as much as I do. It's real young man's singing, that disc - earnest, open, vulnerable, intoxicatingly so, I think. The coupling is Dichterliebe, and a a pairing of these two cut-above-the-rest Schumann song cycles it's pretty unbeatable, to my tastes. Not only that, but that's only the second disc of a set whose first disc is Die schone Mullerin. Not quite so keen on Partridge here, perhaps, but again, his young man's tone is entirely appropriate.

[knight66]

Yes he is ardent and his tone is open and sweet. I think it is him at his peak.Facile I know, but having listened to him for years, it came as a shock to see a photo of him.

Moving along......the Mary Stuart songs are also very lovely, sad and elegiac. The plight of Mary Queen of Scots is an unusual concept for a set of songs. More normally, it is material for a cantata or an opera.

Mike

[mc ukrneal]

So I was having another look at all the lieder and I came across this new box of 35 discs! All Schumann! There are nine discs worth of lieder, which makes it one of the larger collections (that will be) available. And there is quite a breadth in singers.

Here is a link with contents: http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/86871/Schumann_-_The_Masterworks_(Limited_Edition).htm

[Ten thumbs]

This is of course Schumann bicentenary year, so its time I explored the many songs I've never heard. Being retired, I have the time to go beyond my comfort zone but not the inclination to amass CDs, so maybe I'll look for downloads.

[MN Dave]

This is of course Schumann bicentenary year, so its time I explored the many songs I've never heard. Being retired, I have the time to go beyond my comfort zone but not the inclination to amass CDs, so maybe I'll look for downloads.

That way, you can buy one song at a time as well.

[Air]

If any of Schumann's songs are underrated, it would be some of the lesser known ones - the op.90 songs for example.  I wouldn't try to compare them to something like the Dichterliebe, but these are fascinating, compelling works that definitely should be better known.

I think I prefer these particular songs sung by the soprano voice (and in general for Schumann).  One notable exception though, Wunderlich.

[mjwal]

The  12 Gedichte op.35 (Kerner) are not consistently superb, but some of them are spellbinding - for instance "Stille Tränen" . Goerne's excellent recording of that cycle is on the same CD as his op.39. Kerner was a kind of spiritualist as well as a physician, one of the most mysterious and haunting writers of the mid-century together with Mörike. Schumann's op.24, the other Liederkreis (Heine), is wonderful - I recommend the Stephan Genz recording. I agree that op. 90 is extremely worthwhile, if not quite so elevated - the Souzay recording is recommendable. And of course, the songs left out of the final version of Dichterliebe (collected in op.127 & 140) are worth anyone's while - "Dein Angesicht" is one of Schumann's greatest song masterpieces, though like the others he excluded it doesn't really seem to fit in the cycle, at least to me. Murray Schafer works it into his moving homage to Schumann, Adieu, Robert Schumann. - and it has been recorded by Bryn Terfel and Eberhard Waechter, as well as been re-integrated into the cycle by Thomas Hampson.

[Que]

A new HIPPI issue like this always makes me happy!



Beautiful singing and piano are to be heard on the video sample HERE.
(Could someone explain if it's possible to linke that in our GMG flash player?)
I cant find any details about what looks and sounds like a period piano.

The CD intends to recreate a evening at the Schumanns and also includes music by Brahms, Clara and some Bach chorales.

Q

[Mandryka]

I've been listening to quite a lot of Schumann songs recently. Two highlights for me are Ferrier's Edinburgh Festival concert with Frauenlieben und Leben, and (best of all) a Liederkreis Op 39 with FiDi in Salzburg on Orfeo.

The FiDi/Screier/Varady duets recording is entertaining me as I drive. There're real gems amongst those duets.


BTW -- Cortot recording Dichterliebe twice, once with Charles Panzéra , and once with Gérald  Souzay. Does anyone know who I can get hold of the Souzay recording?

[Verena]

BTW -- Cortot recording Dichterliebe twice, once with Charles Panzéra , and once with Gérald  Souzay. Does anyone know who I can get hold of the Souzay recording?

Unfortunately I don't know, I've searched for this myself. However, apparently, this particular recording is not very recommendable. If you're interested, check out Philip Peter's comment in this thread in google groups - rec.music.classical recordings: 

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.classical.recordings/browse_thread/thread/02c780f60ed1232c/ea5dd3f461822eaf?lnk=raot

In case you're not familiar with Souzay's early recording of Dichterliebe available on Testament, that one is quite wonderful as far as Souzay is concerned (though the pianist is not):
http://www.amazon.com/G%C3%A9rard-Souzay-Sings-Schumann-Wolf/dp/B0000AH3DH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1275415478&sr=8-1

Better than Souzay's Philips recording IMO.

[Mandryka]

Unfortunately I don't know, I've searched for this myself. However, apparently, this particular recording is not very recommendable. If you're interested, check out Philip Peter's comment in this thread in google groups - rec.music.classical recordings: 

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.classical.recordings/browse_thread/thread/02c780f60ed1232c/ea5dd3f461822eaf?lnk=raot

In case you're not familiar with Souzay's early recording of Dichterliebe available on Testament, that one is quite wonderful as far as Souzay is concerned (though the pianist is not):
http://www.amazon.com/G%C3%A9rard-Souzay-Sings-Schumann-Wolf/dp/B0000AH3DH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1275415478&sr=8-1

Better than Souzay's Philips recording IMO.

Well-- I made the effort and found it.

http://musicontempo.free.fr/dichterliebe1956/

You need to right click on the link and press save target as.

I haven't heard it yet but I am looking forward to it. Nearly everyone says it is terrible. For a contrarian like me that's a good sign 

One person who seems to love it is the author of this (French language) blog-- who seems to be bien averti

http://operacritiques.free.fr/css/index.php?2009/08/20/1336-lieder-discographie-essentielle

[Verena]

Well-- I made the effort and found it.

http://musicontempo.free.fr/dichterliebe1956/

Wow! Thanks for the link.

[Mandryka]

Dichterliebe – Cortot & Panzéra; Drake & Finley.

Drake must be the best accompanist around. And Finley has a ravishingly beautiful firm colourful baritone.

But Finley seems so insincere. When I listen to him I feel as though I'm hearing a good if rather vulgar character actor in a melodrama. Sometimes the extent of his hammery verges on the  risible – in Wenn ich in deine Augen seh for example.

But there are triumphs too -- Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome  is unforgettable -- partly because of Drake's magnificent accompaniment. And Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen is also revelatory – partly because of the balance between the piano and the voice.
   
Actually, song by song comparison of Finley and Panzéra shows Panzéra to be hardly less colourful and varied than Finley. But Panzéra is so much more spontaneous and natural sounding.

Still, I glad to have that recording with Finley even if I won't listen to it very often.

[cosmicj]

Good discussion.  I am very mixed about von Otter in general but I think this is her finest recording (I have about a half dozen of them):



The final song, 'Rose, meer and sonne' is a major work that I have never encountered before.  Worth buying the disc just for this.  Beautiful stuff.

The only recording of Op. 90 I know is by Barbara Fink.  I am afraid I disagree with the assessment of some others here.  I think it is a weak, unfocussed set of songs that exemplifies the Schumann's compositional issues experienced in his later years.

Finally, does anyone know the Op. 24 set?  For me, it's one of Schumann's best opus numbers but also one of his most obscure. 

[Mandryka]

Finally, does anyone know the Op. 24 set?  For me, it's one of Schumann's best opus numbers but also one of his most obscure.

Op24 Liederkreis is one of my favourite pieces of music in the whole wide world. Essential recordings include Schreier/Shelter and Bostridge/Drake. Pregardien/Gees  too.

[cosmicj]

Mandryka - Glad to see there's another fan of this tremendous set.  I have the Bostridge performance.  Thanks for the Schreier recommendation.

[kishnevi]

Good discussion.  I am very mixed about von Otter in general but I think this is her finest recording (I have about a half dozen of them):



The final song, 'Rose, meer and sonne' is a major work that I have never encountered before.  Worth buying the disc just for this.  Beautiful stuff.

The only recording of Op. 90 I know is by Barbara Fink.  I am afraid I disagree with the assessment of some others here.  I think it is a weak, unfocussed set of songs that exemplifies the Schumann's compositional issues experienced in his later years.

Finally, does anyone know the Op. 24 set?  For me, it's one of Schumann's best opus numbers but also one of his most obscure.

The Schumann box I got today contains Op 24 (Bar/Parsons), Op 40 (Bar/Deutsch), Op 42 (Baker/Barenboim), one song from Op. 90 (Fassbaender/Werba). Von Otter appears as one of the quartet who sing Op. 138.  There's a song titled "Rose, Meer und Sonne sind ein Bild der Liebsten mein" in Op. 37 (Schumann's Ruckert Lieder--going by the song titles, Schumann's longer collection has only one of the texts used by Mahler)--is that the song you mean?  In this set it's done by Bar/Deutsch.


Haven't listened to the lieder yet (tonight was devoted to the Scenes from Faust); will report back when I do later this week.

[The new erato]

The Hyperion 11-disc complete series now (according to Hyperion's website) seems to be ready for release in a reduced-price box.

[cosmicj]

There's a song titled "Rose, Meer und Sonne sind ein Bild der Liebsten mein" in Op. 37 (Schumann's Ruckert Lieder--going by the song titles, Schumann's longer collection has only one of the texts used by Mahler)--is that the song you mean?  In this set it's done by Bar/Deutsch.
[img]

kishnevi - I believe that is the song.  Have a listen - IMHO it's a major work, very beautiful, ambitious.  I am a big fan of Faust Scenes Part II (the rest, ehh).  Report back on your impressions.