Schumann: Liederkreis Op 24 & Op 39
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ROBERT SCHUMANN
Schumann: Liederkreis Op 24 & Op 39
Gerald Finley (baritone) / Julius Drake (piano)
[ Hyperion / CD ]
Release Date: Monday 1 October 2012
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Gerald Finley and Julius Drake return to Schumann, following a magisterially intense Dichterliebe which won them a third Gramophone award. Here they focus on the two contrasting Liederkreis ('song-circle') cycles using texts by Heine and Eichendorff. Heine is the poet of Dichterliebe, and Op 24 contains extremes of elation and despair that call all Finley's considerable dramatic powers into play. Eichendorff's seductive, crepuscular 'night-songs' of Op 39 require the velvety tone for which this singer is equally revered. Separating these two great works are the Sechs Gedichte aus dem Liederbuch eines Malers, Op 36, which find Schumann in more homespun, folksong-influenced vein.
'This new recording shows a greater richness in Finley's voice plus an evolving intimacy in his approach to recording Lieder … each song's overall conception-of which Julius Drake is a key part-reflects great thought as to its core emotion' (Gramophone)
'Julius Drake is perfectly attuned to the palette of shifting colours in Finley's dark baritone-here on top form' (BBC Music Magazine)
'Op 39's settings of Eichendorff deal in dislocation, nostalgia and threatening landscapes. Gerald Finley and pianist Julius Drake are well attuned to those pervading atmospheres and psychological shifts; beginning with the veiled tone with which Finley opens Op 39 every song is individually coloured … and the text is always clear' (The Guardian)
'This disc presents a very fine performance of both the Liederkreise. Gerald Finley … sings Schumann with perceptive musical intelligence and a keen sense of the subtlety with which the composer places the vocal line over and through his piano writing. Finley is admirably accompanied throughout by Julius Drake … this is a disc to be admired and praised for Finley's and Drake's moving truthfulness to each song in both the Liederkreise. This is astonishing music, exceptionally well performed' (International Record Review)
'Finley has carefully absorbed from his immortal predecessor the art of careful enunciation of every syllable in a natural but meaningful way … lovers of Schumann's Lieder and of great singing will not hesitate to plump for this stellar release; enthusiastically recommended' (Fanfare, USA)
Tracks:
Liederkreis, Op. 39
Sechs Gedichte aus dem Liederbuch eines Malers, Op. 36
Liederkreis, Op. 24
