Search - Gerhard Hüsch, Friedrich Schorr, Robert Schumann :: Schumann Legendary Recordings

Three Legendary Singers On The One CD.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 02/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With historical reissues it is possible to put three renowned singers together on the same CD - something that is unlikely to occur with a new CD issue or on a concert platform today. Here are three legendary European singers from the past - Gerhard Hüsch (1901-1984), Lotte Lehmann (1888-1976) and Friedrich Schorr (1888-1953) - in the three most popular Schumann song cycles.Thanks firstly must go to Schumann who in the year 1840 provided in these settings of poems by Heine, Chamisso, and Eichendorff some of the most beautiful songs ever written.Then comes Gerhard Hüsch, working in close rapport with his regular accompanist Hanns Udo Müller, to record in 1936 a "Dichterliebe" that will be viable, respected and valid for all time. Beauty of voice, skilled musicianship, superb diction and emotional directness characterise this performance. Try to sample Track 3 to hear a little of these qualities. A welcome then to Lotte Lehmann, a very different artist. You get the feeling that Lotte Lehmann pays little attention to note values, to vocalising or to polishing a performance to perfection. She conveys in rich measure the emotion within each song. She is a warm, womanly presence, impossible to resist or to disparage . She has a beautiful voice but no breath control. She is accompanied in her 1928 recording by an instrumental ensemble, and the postlude to one of the songs is omitted. Applause then for Friedrich Schorr, still remembered (and heard in reissued recordings and broadcasts) principally for his Wagner roles - Wotan, and Hans Sachs. Contemporary reports suggest he excelled in other musical fields too. Here he demonstrates his mature capabilities as a lieder singer. Although he's in his 50th year here, you'll marvel at the richness and lustre of the voice. Thanks finally to Pavillion Records for devising and producing this embarrassment of riches, and to producer Mark Obert-Thorne for bringing them right out into the room to us."