Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Bernarda Fink, Gerold Huber :: Schubert: Lieder

Excellent Schubert by an outstanding singer

J. L. Carr | 10/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bernarda Fink is one of the best lieder singers of today, and this Schubert album is truly outstanding. She has a wonderful, almost "reedy" sound and the selections are some of Schubert's best. Pianist (Huber) is also excellent. Highly recommended."

Considerably less than the sum of its parts

Terry Serres | Minneapolis, MN United States | 07/01/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I am not sure what to make of this recording and am mystified by my lack of enthusiasm, because usually I am quite enamored of Bernarda Fink's approach to Lieder. I hope I am not becoming blasé about Schubert!



There is much beauty of tone and the pianist has a sure touch. But there is little emotional involvement or poetic insight here. Though the singer and accompanist are both accomplished musicians, they seem completely mismatched. Gerold Huber deploys precious little rubato even in the most sentimental of these songs. "An die Musik" is completely pedestrian with a choppy accompaniment. "Ganymed" suffers particularly from lack of rhythmic variation to convey the character's rapture and transformation. The climax of "Gretchen am Spinnrade" is woefully underpowered, and "Die Junge Nonne" is utterly lacking in drama. "An Silvia" is plain and charmless. "Sei mir gegrüßt" is done far too slowly, with no lilt or enchantment -- the key is major, modulating frequently to the minor, but the mood here is stuck in the minor. "Rastlose Liebe" is executed note-perfect but the breathless excitement is lacking.



There are some successes but mostly when the stakes are lower, such as in the straightforward delivery of "Wonne der Wehmut" and the nicely contemplative take on "Daß sie hier gewesen." A clutch of slower pieces -- "An den Mond", "An die Nachtigall", "Nachtviolen" -- are worth hearing. But for the most part I found myself frustrated with the general lack of presence and the critical lack of intensity at key moments.



I don't believe that I am deaf to nuance (and couldn't disagree more strongly with SantaFeListener's disestimation of Elly Ameling's accomplishments). I just don't find depth or individuality here.



I hope Bernarda Fink discontinues her association with this accompanist. I don't think it's working out."