1 CD | EAC Rip | 243 MB | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Sony Classical RCA Red Seal 88697567732
This is sheer enjoyment from start to finish. It deserves the highest possible praise.
For RCA Red Seal these two artists have been splendidly recorded. There is an interesting essay by Gerhaher in the booklet and full texts with English translations are provided. Michael Cookson
On This CD:
1. Rheinlegendchen
2. Ich ging mit Lust
3. Frühlingsmorgen
4. Ablösung im Sommer
5. Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen:
6. I. Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht
7. II. Ging heut morgen über's Feld
8. III. Ich hab' ein glühend Messer
9. IV. Die zwei blauen Augen
10. Zu Straßburg auf der Schanz
11. Das irdische Leben
12. Nicht wiedersehen
13. Phantasie
14. Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen
Fünf Lieder nach Texten von Friedrich Rückert:
15. I. Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder
16. II. Ich atmet' einen linden Duft
17. III. Um Mitternacht
18. IV. Liebst du um Schönheit
19. V. Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen
20. Urlicht
Christian Gerhaher is one of the foremost Lieder singers of his generation and with a number of successful Schubert recordings has probably taken over Fischer-Dieskau’s mantle. In March 2013 I attended a performance in Munich of the Britten War Requiem with the Chor und Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks under Mariss Jansons. Gerhaher was one of the three soloists and although English is not his first language, unlike the other two singers, he stood out clearly and gave a quite superb account of himself.
All of Mahler’s Lieder are high quality and a number are masterworks of the genre. For this RCA Red Seal release Gerhaher has selected twenty from four collections. The deeply committed Gerhaher is in his element. He certainly makes a strong emotional connection to the text and it feels as if he is actually living the words. With superb diction, his firm, attractive voice takes on a golden timbre. At certain points as in my favourite, the gloriously moving Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen when he reaches into his high register, his voice sounds as if it is floating on air. In the opening song Rheinlegendchen we encounter cheery sentimentality and in Ging heut morgen über's Feld the joy of nature is unmistakable. The depth of grief that Gerhaher conveys in Die zwei blauen Augen is memorable and in the wonderful love song Um Mitternacht he delivers a powerful intensity especially with the words Hab' ich die Macht In deine Hand gegeben! The magnificent melody and affectionate text to Liebst du um Schönheit is quite beautifully sung as is the powerful emotional content of the final Urlicht. Throughout Gerhaher receives highly sympathetic support from pianist Gerold Huber - they make a sterling team.
For RCA Red Seal these two artists have been splendidly recorded. There is an interesting essay by Gerhaher in the booklet and full texts with English translations are provided.
Be aware: this is sheer enjoyment from start to finish. This disc deserves the highest possible praise. Michael Cookson