"If you buy one lieder CD this year, buy this CD! Fritz Wunderlich possesses one of the most beautiful voices on record. It is well-preserved on this disc. The Dichterliebe are unbelievable. Listen especially to the emotion on "Ich grolle nicht," for example. There are very few "definitive" lieder recordings--this is one of mine. A definite desert island disc!"
One of the greatest
Jorge V. Grossmann | Boston, MA USA | 07/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fritz Wunderlich sings with a truly marvelous voice and an impeccable diction. His short life (he died at age 36, however, certainly did not allow him to reach full musical maturity in some of his interpretations. His youthful voice suits the Beethoven songs the best-`Adelaide' stands among the best I have ever heard in recording. His version of Dichterliebe, although also extremely musical and equally moving, lacks of a bit of the detail and subtlety we find in, for example, the Fischer-Dieskau recordings-arguably among the best. We must consider that Wunderlich, contrary to Fischer Dieskau for instance, sings most of these pieces in its original key, which also makes the experience of listening to this CD one of the best ever. This recording gives me the impression that Wunderlich's voice would surpass any other Beethoven, Schubert or Schumann could have ever dreamt of!"
Lieder for people who think they don't like Lieder
Emmanuel Benador | 06/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You say that song recitals bore you? This magnificent disc will change your mind. Germanic reverence for the lied can be sooooo dull, but Wunderlich has emotional understanding, and intelligence mixed with expressiveness. Cap this with a voice of unparalleled beauty (his high notes will leave you gasping for breath) and you have a recital that makes art-song-haters wonder what they have been missing. An ESSENTIAL disc at a bargain price!"
Schumann: Dichterliebe / Wunderlich, Giesen
Emmanuel Benador | New York, New York USA | 03/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The cycle of the Poet's love is most probably the greatest and most difficult one to interpret. Each melody is asking from the singer and the pianist equal amount of musical imagination (as later on with Hugo wolf cycles.) Here, Wunderlich sings with such subtleties that it seems as natural as he would speak or read out loud. The words are integrated into the music and the accents help the listener to follow the music and the poems as a whole story instead of considering each melody as a seperate entity. These accents are not cold but beautifully musical sustained by H. Giesen at the piano. His warm voice is an enormous plus in this version and each sound is in place, like breathing is a necessity."
Creamy & Dreamy - Highly recommended
A. S. Templeton | Seattle, WA USA | 02/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"From the start, with Giesen's sublime "Im Wunderschönen Monat Mai" intro, to the last track, Fritz Wunderlich's effortless and expressive tenor is a true pleasure throughout.A pity that Herr Wunderlich's career was tragically cut short. I should have liked to hear more."