Search - Richard [1] Strauss, Roger Vignoles, Andrew Kennedy :: Richard Strauss: The Complete Songs, Vol. 3

Exquisite, refined, delightful ...

Pater Ecstaticus | Norway | 10/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To paraphrase another reviewer in his review of another album in this ongoing Hyperion series of Strauss Lieder recordings, this is such highly refined and exquisite art that with every listen this album only gets better. With that I mean of course that with every listen, one becomes more and more aware all of the infinite detail and finesse of the art of pianist and singer and their wonderful co-artistry. I would recommend listening to this album from beginning to end without a stop, and than maybe again, and then also reading along with the poems and the essay by Roger Vignoles. In the booklet notes, Roger Vignoles goes on to explain some of the poetic and musical characteristics of the songs. Although, to my shame, I have to confess I cannot really follow along with any of the musical theoretical explanations (I can't read music). My listening to music has always been rather intuitive.

I have come to especially love Roger Vignoles playing. I also love his recordings with Stephan Genz (Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Mahler: Songs) In this album also, his playing is again of delicate beauty and lyricism, but with, to my ears, gorgeous legato. I almost have a sensation (please let me indulge ;) of him 'caressing' the keys in such a lovingly refined and assured way as to make the piano sing with such a full and warm sound that it is the greatest joy to behold.

Andrew Kennedy's voice is silky of tone and is equally balanced between high and low. A very beautiful and powerful 'instrument' with a full timbre, warm and graceful. His articulation is very delicate and refined. It is nice to have a full album of Strauss songs by a tenor voice. In a way a rarity, as most of the times we hear them sung by a soprano. It is nice to have this recording beside the one by Jonas Kaufmann. I also love that recording (Strauss: Lieder), and while that album can hold its own among the greatest recordings and rightfully praised, this one surely also can! Jonas Kaufmann's dramatic tenor voice is very big and operatic, but it is very delicately handled, and I like that, but Andrew Kennedy's lyric tenor voice is more the 'traditional' Lieder-voice, and a gorgeous one at that.

This is a recording of the highest artistry and of the highest importance in the musical world. Highly and safely recommended (together with the album by Jonas Kaufmann)."