Composer: Robert Schumann
Performer: Gerald Finley, Julius Drake
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue: CDA67676
Release: 2008
Size: 245 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Romanzen und Balladen IV, Op. 64
01. No. 3a, Tragödie I. Entflieh mit mir
02. No. 3b, Tragödie II. Es fiel ein Reif
Romanzen und Balladen II, Op. 49
03. No. 1, Die beiden Grenadiere
Romanzen und Balladen I, Op. 45
04. No. 3, Abends am Strand
Romanzen und Balladen II, Op. 49
05. No. 2, Die feindlichen Brüder
Romanzen und Balladen III, Op. 53
06. No. 3a, Der arme Peter I
07. No. 3b, Der arme Peter II
08. No. 3c, Der arme Peter III
09. Belsatzar, Op. 57
Myrthen, Op. 25
10. No. 7, Die Lotosblume
11. No. 21, Was will die einsame Träne?
12. No. 24, Du bist wie eine Blume
4 Gesänge, Op. 142
13. No. 2, Lehn’ deine Wang’ an meine Wang’
5 Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 127
14. No. 3, Es leuchtet meine Liebe
15. No. 2, Dein Angesicht so lieb und schön
4 Gesänge, Op. 142
16. No. 4, Mein Wagen rollet langsam
Dichterliebe, Op. 48
17. No. 1, Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
18. No. 2, Aus meinen Tränen spriessen
19. No. 3, Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne
20. No. 4, Wenn ich in deine Augen seh’
21. No. 5, Ich will meine Seele tauchen
22. No. 6, Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome
23. No. 7, Ich grolle nicht
24. No. 8, Und wüssten’s die Blumen, die kleinen
25. No. 9, Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen
26. No. 10, Hör’ ich das Liedchen klingen
27. No. 11, Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen
28. No. 12, Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
29. No. 13, Ich hab’ im Traum geweinet
30. No. 14, Allnächtlich im Traume seh’ ich dich
31. No. 15, Aus alten Märchen winkt es
32. No. 16, Die alten, bösen Lieder
Why another Dichterliebe recording? Because Gerald Finley has simply one of the greatest voices of his generation, and is an artist at the peak of his powers. He brings to this noble song cycle the supreme technical ability and penetrating musical understanding that characterize all his performances, whether on the concert platform, in the recording studio or on the great opera stages of the world. This is his fourth disc with collaborator Julius Drake, and the partnership has proved to be a uniquely rewarding one.
This fine recital also includes many of Schumann’s other Heine settings. The extremes of elation and despair in Heine’s poetry stimulated Schumann to write some of his most poignant and unforgettable songs. This is truly a disc to treasure.
Though the 16 additional settings included here are welcome, the success or failure of any recital of Schumann’s Heine settings depends on the quality of its Dichterliebe, the early German Romantic’s most ardent song cycle. In this 2008 Hyperion disc, Gerald Finley comes close to success, but how close depends on the listener’s tastes. None will deny the burley British baritone can hit the notes and hold them, nor that he lacks sympathy for the texts and insight into the music. And few would dispute that his poetic readings of the cycle’s sweeter songs are wholly persuasive. But while some may appreciate his robust interpretations of the cycle’s bitter songs, others may find him overly emphatic, possibly even a tad histrionic at climaxes. Still, Finley plainly knows exactly what he is doing and there’s no doubting that he means every word. These same attributes are manifest in the other Heine settings that precede Dichterliebe on this disc. Finley’s Die beiden Grenadiere is suitably blustery, for example, while Was will die einsame Träne? is effectively teary. Pianist Julius Drake provides tasteful and supportive accompaniments and Hyperion supplies them both with clear, cool digital sound.