Spectrally fascinating
S Duncan | London | 05/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Some voices possess such amazingly distinctive character and style! Brigitte Fassbaender is definitely one such voice. Her haunting performance of Mussorgsky's "Songs and Dances of Death" had set me on a journey of discovery. The peerless quality that Ms. Fassbaender has for depicting the darker side of beauty has been consistently delivered. Her Brangane, alongside the achingly superlative Margaret Price's Isolde, is taut with emotion and redolent with beauty. It must therefore have been cold logic or supernatural omen that led me to discover that both these enchanting singers each have a programme of lieder in the Hyperion Schubert Edition. Dame Price's programme of songs is based on the theme of night whereas Ms. Fassbaender's is centred in the theme of death.Dame Price and Ms. Fassbaender both share an alluring vocal quality: their voices are consistently sweet and rich (respectively...though BOTH are ravishingly beautiful) but interspersed with moments of celestial purity. Take track 12 here "Lied des Orpheus". Listen to the change in colouration where she sings the words "Klage" in the first line of the 5th verse. Or again in track 14 where, after introducing her menacing reference to the cold north, she then steals your very soul with the word "tragen" in the 5th verse. Listen to Dame Price's CD and you will find a similar appeal.Graham Johnson's accompaniment is not only beautifully played but perfectly complements his singer. His sense of control is clearly well-studied but not artificial in the least. There is a natural feel. The sound quality is pristine and the very slight echo in the acoustics adds to the proper "graveyard" feel of the work (see the picture on the cover...very pensive!).Finally, let me just say (with GREAT emphasis) that despite all this talk of death, this is a performance that will hold your rapt attention. A tried and proven stunner. We are experiencing the age of one who will be regarded as a great legend in the future. For me, she has already achieved that status. I highly recommend this disc, together with Dame Margaret Price's sealed performance of nocturnal bliss!"
Terrific, dark
S Duncan | 02/24/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Those looking for the darker side of Schubert will find it here. My favorite of the series (along with Margaret Price)."
Powerful and Convincing
DorianLS | United States | 10/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What stands out in Fassbaender's singing is the absolute authenticity of her performance. So many Lieder singers are concerned with their tone and other factors extraneous to the authentic identification with their character. On this album Fassbaender totally identifies with her characters and lets them speak. Her singing is powerful and flawless. The outstanding songs on this album are Lied des Orpheus, a song I hadn't been familiar with previously. The story is very moving and Fassbaender renders them absolutely convincingly. Das Zugenlocklein is another new song for me. Beautifully sung and played. As for Der Tod und das Madchen I have heard Fischer-Dieskau's version previously and his rendering cannot be surpassed. Overall, this is a fabulous album and I cannot recommend it more highly."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1