SCHUMANN: Spanisches Liederspiel, Op. 74; Minnespiel, Op. 101; Spanische Liebeslieder – Marlis Petersen, soprano/ Anke Vondung, mezzo-soprano/ Werner Gura, tenor/ Konrad Jarnot, bass-baritone/ Christoph Berner, Camillo Radicke, piano – Harmonia mundi

by | Oct 7, 2010 | Classical CD Reviews | 0 comments

SCHUMANN: Spanisches Liederspiel, Op. 74; Minnespiel, Op. 101; Spanische Liebeslieder, Op. 138 – Marlis Petersen, soprano/ Anke Vondung, mezzo-soprano/ Werner Gura, tenor/ Konrad Jarnot, bass-baritone/ Christoph Berner, Camillo Radicke, piano – Harmonia mundi 902050, 69:50 *****:

Schumann thought that his Spanisches Liederspiel might end up as one of his most popular compositions, that the songs were of such appeal that even the more unsophisticated listener would find something attractive. In this he was wrong—whether it is the odd combination of singers required to perform the work (single singer to duet to quartet) or the fact of its poetic complexities that couldn’t help finding their way into the music, most of it has been relegated to the composer’s second tier. This is a mistake—this is some of the most loveable and ingratiating music the composer ever penned. The same goes for the piano-four-hands Spanische Liebeslieder composed just a few years before his death; though the work is simpler in terms of structure and folk-like elements, the tone is remarkably similar to the Op. 74.

The Minnespiel ( Love Songs) of 1849 is another of Schumann’s Ruckert settings, from the poet’s first published poems, Liebesfruhling. Though still rounded out for the already described anthology of performing forces, the songs are far more intimate and secluded in nature, no doubt one in a long line of images of the composer’s love for Clara.

All the singers on this release are beautifully captured and each has done his or her homework on how to interpret them. This is a much-needed compilation in fantastic sound that grabbed me right from the start and afforded 70 minutes of absolute pleasure. Even if you are not one who normally gravitates toward lieder, this will please greatly.

— Steven Ritter

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