Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Robert Schumann, Richard [Classical] Wagner :: Richard Tauber: A Programme of Lieder

The inimitable Tauber sings lieder

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 02/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In Volume 1 of this series, Tauber sang from Viennese operetta primarily, the repertoire for which he was best known. In this issue he sings standard lieder recital fare, an area where he was just as talented. But his career as a purveyor of Viennese charm often co-opted his ability to sing 'serious' music, much as being an 'Irish tenor' took over the career of John McCormack. Here, though, he makes up for that, and in wonderful style. Just listen to Schumann's 'Im wunderschönen Monat Mai' or 'Ich grolle nicht' and you'll see what I mean. Or 'Träume' from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder. I almost forget to breathe when he sings Richard Strauss's 'Morgen.' The only small quibble I'd have is that Tauber's strong Viennese accent sometimes intrudes in literature we generally hear with more standard hochdeutsch pronunciation. These performances were originally published on the German Odeon label and had a great deal of surface noise. Wizard recording producer Ward Marston has cleaned up and burnished their sound inobtrusively. The performances themselves are, of course, self-recommending, and particularly at this bargain price."