Jason D. Richard | Cedar Falls, IA USA | 09/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The recording of Der Hirt on this cd is amazing. The combination of Serkin, Wright (the greatist clarinetist of his time) and Valente is a work of true genuis. It is as close to perfect as possible. There is simply no better performance of this work available. The horn work of Bloom is also great. The recordings on this cd is juest the best possible. It is a must have for anyone who likes Schubert."
A Perfect (?) "Der Hirt"
Donald E. Weng | Perrysburg, Ohio, USA | 04/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of course in the world of music 'perfect' is not a very useful word. I have heard many recordings of this great song and the Valente/Wright/Serkin interpretation is as near perfect as is humanly possible. The balance, intonation and musicianship of these three great artists are beautifully shown here."
It just doesn't get any better
Donald E. Weng | 10/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All performers are awesome - sensitive, technical masters, but being a hornist myself, I must remark that this recording is one of the reasons I play the instrument. Anyone who has attempted to play the horn knows how difficult it is to play with the utmost legato Bloom produces, not to mention his beautiful sound, and world-class musicianship. There - my two cents...Thanks, Myron - you continue to inspire us all...."
Heartbreaking, ecstatic Schubert
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 01/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Apparently this superlative CD is out of print, although one of its main attractions, Benita Valente's Der HIrt auf dem Felsen, can be had on another Sony disc from Marlboro. Here we also get Valente's haunting Auf dem Strom, composed just as late as Der Hirt and equally sublime among Schubert's final output. Somehow the young Valente in 1965 found a degree of ecstasy in her voice that she rarely, if ever matched--the difference must have been the inspiration of Rudolf Serkin, the incomparable Myron Bloom on horn and Harold Wright on clarinet. Five stars isn't enough.
The rest of this fairly generous (68 min.) CD contains a ravishing Liebeslieder Waltzes, also with Marlboro forces, which not only features Valente and Serkin again but Leon Fleisher as second pianist. Delightfully sunny and infectious, it belongs at the top of recorded performances. Finnlly we get a singer not associated with Marlboro, George London, in Brahms's solemn and reverent Vier ernste Gesange. It can be enjoyed for London's commanding vocalism, even if his interpretation cannot hope to match Hotter, Janet Baker or Quasthoff."