SCHUMANN: Scenes from Goethe’s Faust – Christian Gerhaher, baritone/ Christiane Iven, mezzo-soprano/ Alastair Miles, bass/ Werner Güra, tenor/ Mojca Erdmann, soprano/ Birgit Remmert, alto/ Elisabeth von Magnus, alto/ Franz-Josef Selig, bass/ Anitra Jellema, soprano/ Anjolet Rotteveel, alto/ Kevin Doss, tenor/ Netherlands Radio Choir/Netherlands Children’s Choir/ Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Nikolaus Harnocourt – RCO Live multichannel SACDs RCO 09001 (2 discs) [Distr. By Harmonia mundi], 72:56, 45:34. ***½:
This timely release from the RCO Live label marks a welcome addition to commemorate the Schumann Bicentenary. Acknowledged for his provocative insights and interpretive powers in the composer’s orchestral oeuvres, Harnocourt’s contributions in Schumann’s one-and-only opera Genoveva and cantata Das Paradises und die Peri have met no less worldwide acclaim. His recording of Genoveva on Teldec (1997) was awarded Belgium’s Caecilia Prize, while his recent release of Das Paradises und die Peri (2008) has earned him the accolades to both a Gramophone Award in 2009 and a BBC Music Award earlier this year. To continue with his intrinsic love of the human voice and a fascination with the compositions of Robert Schumann, Harnocourt join forces with no lesser than the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and a commendable cast of vocalists to present the composer’s one and only oratorio, Szenen auf Goethes Faust (Scenes from Goethe’s Faust). Captured on two handsomely packaged discs, plus a 100+ page booklet with lyrics and liner notes contributed by Mark van Dongen, this recording is captured in fine surround acoustics from five live concert performances during April 2008 in the top-rated hall of the Concertgebouw.
One of the major assets in this recording’s vocal cast is the baritone who enacts the wonderfully intelligent role of Faust. Christian Gerhaher’s merits as the next up-and-rising baritone of our generation have captured the buzz from many vocal enthusiasts. In support, his enactment in Schumann’s principal role in this recording highlights just some of the fine controls in the voice that earn him his deserving acclaim – the lightest of his pianissimo to the grand boldness and depth in musical dramatization. These qualities are displayed with the utmost clarity and conviction in this recording, which arguably can stand en par with the classic interpretation by Bryn Terfel (on Sony). Gerhaher’s skilfull treatment of the voice is indispensable to outline the heightened dramatization of the narrative. The results are dramatically effective in a large-scale work and generate just as much excitement as it has with the intimate settings of Schubert Lieder (the recording of which met the recommendations from one of us here).
In parallel, fine vocal portrayals by Alistair Miles as Mephistopheles, Werner Güra as Ariel, and Mojca Erdmann as Marthe, are particularly noteworthy. It is perhaps their mutual stylistic tension and vocal fluidity that shine as lustrously as the fine orchestral playing from the RCO. Harnocourt’s labour of love in this Schumann score is prominent throughout – his direction never coarse; rather, he brings out the attractive blends of the RCO musicians, such as the multi-layered textures in string passagework, to outline the discourse and drama that comments on the progression of the two part narrative. A worthy recommendation to be added in your Schumann library.
— Patrick P.L. Lam
