Goerne continues his outstanding Schubert traversal
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 11/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Forty years ago Fischer-Dieskaurecorded every Schubert song suited to the male voice, and now his latter-day equal, Matthias Goerne, has set out to duplicate that epochal feat. This two-fer is the second installment, and unlike F-D, who kept Gerald Moore as his sole accompanist throughout, Goerne is trying on different pianists for each installment, a nice idea although the variations in pianistic style seem rather minor. (The two here are Helmut Deutsch and Eric Schneider, both a bit tame for my taste.)
The installments are arranged thematically, or by mood -- the first was titled "Sensucht" (Yearning) and contained a majority of searching, melancholy songs. This one is more openly romantic in tone -- it's called "An mein Herz" (To my Heart), after one of the songs on the progrzam.
Throughout Goerne is in fine form -- sensitive, openly expressive, and mellifluous -- and he avoids a one-size-fits-all approach. Still, his general style is applied most of the time. I'm not sure that Schubert should be this smooth and creamy-sounding, but a legion of fans disagree. I compared each song to Fischer-Dieskau's version and found the earlier singer more varied, but Goerne is certainly intense. His tempos are often slower, his style more solemn. In any event, it's a great thing for a major talent like Goerne to essay so many masterful songs, many of them rare.
Here's the complete program of 43 lieder:
Der Jungling und der Tod D545. Das Lied im Grunen D917. Wehmut - Die Herbstnacht D404. Ins stille Land D403. Der Herbstabend D405. Drang in die Ferne D770. An mein Herz D860. Der Wanderer D649. Uber Wildemann D884. Klage D371. Am Bach im Fruhling D361. An die Laute D905. Des Frauleins Liebeslauschen D698. Augenlied D297. Du bist die Ruh D776. An die Musik D547. An eine Quelle D530. Der Sanger am Felsen D482. Abschied von der Harfe D406. Liedesend D473. Das Heimweh D456. Auf der Donau D553. Wie Ulfru fischt D525. Die Sternennachte D670. Ruckweg D476. Geheimnis D491. Gondelfahrer D808. Abendstern D806. Der Sieg D805. Nachtstuck D672. Auflosung D807. Heiss' mich nicht reden D877/2. Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt D877/4. An Mignon D161. Gesange des Harfners D478. Am Flusse D160. Nahe des Geliebten D162. Der Fischer D225. Auf dem See D543. Wonne der Wehmut D260. Willkommen und Abschied D767"
Beauty unsurpassed
JAD | San Jose, CA | 02/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording captured the loveliest of sound from the beginning to the end, with every note thoughtfully rendered and every phrase tenderly caressed. From Matthias Goerne, this is truly the work of a consummate artist at his prime. Listen to the perfectly executed and perfectly tempered phrase at the end of Du bist die Ruh and feel the radiance! Bravo!
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Wonderful Schubert
J. L. Carr | 12/21/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great singing by Goerne and this superb album has some of Schubert's very best lieder. Highly recommended."
