Search - Max Reger, Götz Payer, Andreas Weller :: Max Reger: Blick in die Lieder

Delightful Reger Songs

Eero Richmond | Brooklyn, NY | 06/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aside from the ever-popular "Mariä Wiegenlied" ("Mary's Cradlesong"), very few of Reger's more than 200 songs are known outside German-speaking countries. Vocal recitalists in the U.S., relying heavily on the standard repertoire of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, and Richard Strauss, have a wonderful untapped resource in Reger's Lieder -- and so do listeners! The 27 songs presented on this CD were composed throughout Reger's life and include some of his most accessible works, the majority of which last less than three minutes. Texts range from lullabies to impassioned poems to some that are quite humorous (including two especially amusing ones about mice!). Some of these poems were also set by Schumann and R. Strauss. After many hearings, this is the first time I've heard "Mariä Wiegenlied" sung by a man; it's quite effective. Andreas Weller is a fine German lyric tenor who frequently performs in Europe and North America. His recordings of Bach and Humperdinck are especially outstanding. The recorded sound here is excellent, and the voice-piano balance is perfect -- important in songs such as these, where the piano part adds so greatly to the meaning of the texts. Götz Payer is the fine pianist. Program notes are in German, English, and French. All song texts are printed in German with English translations. Highly recommended!"