Search - Schumann, Lemieux, Blumenthal :: Schumann: Frauenliebe und -Leben

A Gorgeous Voice at the Service of Schumann Lieder

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 04/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a bit less than comfortable with the last release of Marie-Nicole Lemieux's that I came across. As lovely as her rich contralto is, I felt in her Brahms disc that she had developed a bothersome mannerism, a kind of swell -- a pronounced messa di voce -- applied consistently on long, loud notes; it was distracting and ultimately irritating. I am very happy to report that on this disc of some of Schumann's loveliest songs the mannerism is considerably moderated.



Lemieux, a Québécoise in her early thirties, has recorded a great deal for the Naïve label, primarily as a cast member in their invaluable series of Vivaldi and Handel operas and sacred music. And she has garnered good reviews for her live appearances. This disc of core Schumann lieder will add to her burgeoning reputation. Included are songs from the composer's 'song year', 1840, primarily the so-called 'Liederkreis' and 'Frauenliebe und - leben'. In addition to producing an unfailingly beautiful sound, Mlle Lemieux imparts the meaning of these quintessentially Romantic texts with conviction. In 'Mondnacht', for instance, both she and her marvelous accompanist, the distinguished pianist Daniel Blumenthal, realize the hushed ecstasy called for by Eichendorff's text. The young girl's happiness in 'In Stille' is expressed with naïve sincerity. Likewise, the quiet sadness of 'Wehmut' is heart-felt. In 'Im Walde' the merry hunting party and the stillness of the woods that they leave behind are limned with truthfulness by both Blumenthal and Lemieux.



The eight songs set to Chamisso's Frauenliebe und -leben', written in two days by Schumann in a miracle of concentration, are given in deeply felt performances by Lemieux and Blumenthal. The joy of 'Er, der Herrlichste von allen' and of 'Du Ring an meinem Finger' are moving. One could almost believe that Mlle Lemieux herself is newly in love. And the paean to mother love, 'An meinem Herzen, an meiner Brust', bursts with the bliss of motherhood.



Rounding out the disc are effective performances of five other songs, two from 'Myrthen' Op. 25 (the beloved 'Der Nussbaum' and 'Widmung'), one to a text by Mörike ('Er ist's'), another Chamisso song (the dark ballad 'Die Löwenbraut') and the ghostly 'Loreley'.



This is an outstanding disc.





Scott Morrison

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