01. - 05. Ruckert-Lieder * [21'13]
06. - 08. Three songs from 'Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit' ^ [12'09]
09. Winterlied from 'Drei frühe Lieder' ^ [4'40]
10. - 14. Kindertotenlieder ^ [26'09]
Teddy Tahu Rhodes- bass-baritone; Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marko Letonja *; Sharolyn Kimmorley- piano ^
ABC Classics 4810484 [recorded November 2012* and October 2013^; digital download released 2014]
[digital download; flacs, cover and back scans - no booklet]
Recording venue: Federation Concert Hall. Hobart* and unknown^Recording engineer & Producer: Virginia Read
For some reason ABC Classics lists the New Zealand singer Teddy Tahu Rhodes as "bass-baritone" on this issue but on the earlier Vagabond album he is listed as just "baritone". On another of their recordings, a 2002 HIP Messiah, he is listed as "bass". Although he is commonly known as a bass-baritone, his range extends at least as high as the average baritone as can be heard on these recordings. Go figure.
Although both the Ruckert-Lieder and Kindertotenlieder are normally thought of as being songs for female voice they work just as well for a lyric baritone - as do the four early songs. I thought initially, that I would miss an orchestral accompaniment for Kindertotenlieder but in fact Rhode's partnership with Sharolyn Kimmorley works rather better than with the Tasmanian Symphony under Slovenian conductor Marko Letonja where there is a lack of clarity in the balances - with strings overpowering even this singer's sonorous voice at times. Kimmorley has accompanies Rhodes for many years and they have superb rapport with masterly playing bringing out the best in Rhodes. The intimacy of the piano wins out here even though one still misses the orchestral instruments at times.