Sommernacht (Summer Night: 'Im Garten rauscht die Sommernacht'), song for voice & piano, Op. 98/5
Der gute Rat ('Hier ein Weilchen'), song for voice & piano, Op. 98/2
Aus den Himmelsaugen, song for voice & piano, Op. 98/1
Verlassen hab' ich mein Lieb, song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 15/9
Um Mitternacht blühen die Blumen, song for voice & piano, Op. 79c/2
Die Glocke des Glücks ('Viele Glocken hör' ich läuten'), song for voice & piano, Op. 79c/6
Gebet (Hymn to Glory: 'Die du über die Sterne weg'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 4/1
Winterahnung (Winter-Foreboding: 'Mich hat der Herbst betrogen'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 4/3
Die Nixe ('Aus der Tiefe tauchte sie'), song for voice & piano, Op. 62/10
Glück ('Es ruht mit ernstem Sinnen auf mir dein Blick'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 15/1
Abscheid ('Meine armen, kleinen Lieder'), song for voice & piano, Op. 43/4
Stelldichein ('Husch, husch, husch, husch'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 88/2
Sehnsucht ('Quellen rauschen'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 66/1
Morgen (Tomorrow: 'Und Morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 66/10
Kindergeschichte ('Und der Nachbarssohn, der Ruprecht'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 66/12
Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint (Heaven Has Shed a Tear), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 35/2
Flieder ('Stille, träumenden Frühlingsnacht'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 35/4
Gute Nacht ('Das war der Junker Übermut'), song for voice & piano, Op. 55/13
Ach, Liebster, in Gedanken, song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 48/4
Am Dorfsee, song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano, Op. 48/6
Mein Traum (My Dream: 'Liegt nun so still die weite Welt'), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano (or orchestra), Op. 31/5
Lied eines Mädchen ('Komm, komm, Geselle mein'), song for voice & piano, Op. 104/4
Schmied Schmerz ('Der Schmerz ist ein Schmied'), song for voice & piano, Op. 51/6
Mutter, tote Mutter, song for voice & piano, Op. 104/3
Friede ('Tief in Talgrund überm Bach'), song for voice & piano, Op. 76/25
Zwei Mäuschen ('Es waren mal'), song for voice & piano, Op. 76/48
Glückes genug ('Wenn sanft du mir), song for mezzo-soprano or baritone & piano (or orchestra), Op. 37/3
Darum ('Hab' Singen für mein Leben gern'), song for voice & piano, Op. 75/15
Wiegenlied ('Schlaf' ein, mein liebes Kindlein du'), song for soprano or tenor & piano, Op. 142/1
In der Frühe (In the Early Hours: 'Kein Schlaf noch'), song for voice & piano
"Frauke May plainly loves these songs. Her manner is warm, caressing ? positively lavish in places?recordings are excellent." - BBC MUSIC Max Reger (1873-1916) was a Late Romantic composer best known today for his organ w... more »orks, and a couple of orchestral suites. Long dismissed as overly academic, Reger has been widely reevaluated in recent years and his music become more and more popular. Shortly after completing her voice studies, mezzo-soprano Frauke May won the European Special Prize for best Wagner interpretation. After further study with Brigitte Fassbaender and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, she began singing in the leading German opera houses. More recently, she has toured the U.S. and Europe. She has a special affection for the songs of Wolf and Reger, and has recorded songs of both for Arte Nova. Pianist Bernhard Renzikowski made his debut in 1988 and since then has enjoyed an extensive concert career, appearing in Austria, France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland. He has a particular interest in seldom-heard works like the songs of Max Reger and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, and for many years has worked in partnership with Frauke May.« less
"Frauke May plainly loves these songs. Her manner is warm, caressing ? positively lavish in places?recordings are excellent." - BBC MUSIC Max Reger (1873-1916) was a Late Romantic composer best known today for his organ works, and a couple of orchestral suites. Long dismissed as overly academic, Reger has been widely reevaluated in recent years and his music become more and more popular. Shortly after completing her voice studies, mezzo-soprano Frauke May won the European Special Prize for best Wagner interpretation. After further study with Brigitte Fassbaender and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, she began singing in the leading German opera houses. More recently, she has toured the U.S. and Europe. She has a special affection for the songs of Wolf and Reger, and has recorded songs of both for Arte Nova. Pianist Bernhard Renzikowski made his debut in 1988 and since then has enjoyed an extensive concert career, appearing in Austria, France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland. He has a particular interest in seldom-heard works like the songs of Max Reger and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, and for many years has worked in partnership with Frauke May.
CD Reviews
Songs by Max Reger
Robin Friedman | Washington, D.C. United States | 11/11/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Max Reger (1873 -- 1916) combined elements of Brahms and Wagner during a brief but prolific career as a composer. He is best known as a composer for the organ, but he composed a substantial amount of orchestral music and chamber music as well. Reger's songs are the least-known part of his output. He composed over 300 songs, almost as many as Hugo Wolf, whose songs were a great influence on Reger.
This CD consists of 30 songs by Reger performed by mezzo-soprano Frauke May and pianist Bernhard Renzikowski. Frauke May has a burnished and expressive voice and an obvious feeling for Reger's music. She has also recorded Wolf's Morike Lieder for Arte Nova. The low price of this CD will make it especially attractive to the curious listener. The disc was recorded in 1999 but was not released until 2006.
Reger's songs reflect the varied influences of Brahms, Richard Strauss, and in particular, Hugo Wolf. Many of the songs are dense with heavy, clangorous piano writing. Reger's harmonies are chromatic and late romantic. He is something of a bridge figure between late romanticism and the Second Vienesse School. Some of Reger's songs are light and humorous, such as "Zwei Mauschen" opus 76 no. 48 on this CD, but his songs of this type seem forced. He tended to be slow, serious, and difficult at his most characteristic. Reger's songs are not easy listening, but they are rewarding to those who love lieder.
Reger's early songs tend to be melodic in a style that reminds me of Brahms. On this CD, the songs "Gebet" and "Winterahung" from opus 4 feature a flowing melodic vocal line. As Reger progressed, his songs became more declamatory. The vocal line is chromatic, with wide intervals, and the piano part is complex. The songs of this type on this CD include "Ach, Liebster in Gedanken" opus 48 no.4 and "Mein Traum" opus 31 no. 5. Late in life, Reger returned to a simpler, more melodic approach in his songs. An excellent example from this CD is "Wiegenlied", opus 142/1. This song will remind the listener of Brahms's famous lullabye with its simple vocal line and flowing accompaniment.
The liner notes for this CD include a good, basic introduction to Reger's songs. German texts, but no translations, for the songs are provided. This CD will have its greatest appeal to lovers of the songs of Schubert, Brahms, Wolf, or Strauss who want to explore some little-known works of German lieder.
Track Listings (30) - Disc #1