SCHUBERT: Nacht und Traume – Matthis Goerne, baritone/ Alexander Schmalcz, piano – Harmonia mundi

by | Aug 25, 2011 | Classical CD Reviews | 0 comments

SCHUBERT: Nacht und Traume – Matthis Goerne, baritone/ Alexander Schmalcz, piano – Harmonia mundi 902063, 60:40 ****:
This is volume 5 of Goerne’s thematic Schubert survey, and as the title would indicate (Night and Dreams) it is also one of the darkest. Truly though there are many wonderfully lyrical moments, as Schubert was incapable of writing anything less than, at the very least, an interesting melody, the content is something that makes for a one hour session of some very somber thoughts. The Romantics were full of deathly moments — of tragedy, fatalism, longing for a different existence, and even fear of life itself. But Schubert, who barely made the age of 30 himself, was surrounded by it in his family life and social existence, and his last years accomplished artistically under the very shadow of death which colored many of his songs, last piano sonatas and chamber music. Yet he always seems to find, at least until we hear the last strains of Winterreise, a way out of the dilemma; there seems to be hope crouching in the very fabric of his magnificent melodies. By the time his last cycle is completed, hope is indeed lost.
There are some memorable and very famous songs here; An Sylvia and Ständchen are of course standouts on any lieder recital. But all are worthy entries and Goerne’s conceit here remains unassailable—this is a very apt program that is very carefully put together. His voice is rapt, expressive, and though not the most powerful instrument active today, easily one of the most dedicated to the text, not surprising for a Fischer-Dieskau pupil. The series is shaping up nicely, and there is no reason to stop collecting now.
TrackList:
Nacht und Träume, D827
Der blinde Knabe D833
Hoffnung, D637
Totengräberweiss D869 (Schlechta)
Tiefes Lied D876
Greisengesang, D778
Totengräbers Heimwehe D842 (Craigher)
An den Mond, D193
Die Mainacht, D194
An Sylvia, D891
Ständchen ‘Horch! Horch! die Lerch!’, D889
Der Schafer und der Reiter D517 (Fouque)
Die Sommernacht, D289 (Klopstock)
Erntelied D434 (Holty)
Herbstlied D502 (Salis-Seewis)
Der liebliche Stern, D861 (Schulze)
An die Geliebte, D303
— Steven Ritter

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