At last, a lyric tenor triumphs in 'Schwanengesang'
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 05/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Werner Gura's light lyric tenor wouldn't seem right for Schubert's last, passionate outpouring of song. Much of that outpouring is tragic, and therefore weightier voices have gravitated to 'Schwanengesang.' But Gura is so ardent and musical that he carries the day, and his accompanist, Christoph Berner, is first rate, a rarity at any time but especially today, when I can't think of another besides Malcolm Martineau and Roger Vignobles (and Brendel or James Levine, when they take on the role).
Gura doesn't try to overpower any of the songs, and (thank God) he doesn't resort to Ian Bostridge's irritating overemphasis in the texts. Every German tenor singing lieder must stand comparison with Fritz Wunderlich. Here, although his instrument is much lighter, Gura scores on two fronts: his voice is naturally beautiful, with the built-in thrill the Italians call "squillo," and he knows how to touch the listener's heart. I'm surprised to find myself saying this, but even on first acquaintance I like Gura better in Schubert than Peter Schreier, Hans Peter Blochwitz, John Mark Ainsley, Ian Partridge, and Bostridge (being liberated from undernourished British tenors is a joy all its own). Another factor that sets Gura apart is the fearlessness of his attack in a wrenching song like Doppelganger.
If you are reading this review, you already know the glories of Schwanengesang as music. Werner Gura may well open your eyes to what a lyric tenor can do in songs that were originally written for that very voice. He is exciting and moving at the same time. The ghost of Wunderlich must be smiling."
Schubert beautifully and sensitively sung by a German tenor
Stephen Kass | 04/09/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I fully agree with Santa Fe Listener's review. Güra is an outstanding singer, both in the "Lied" genre and in oratorios (excellent as the evangelist in Bach's passions). As SFL writes, his voice is lighter than that of Wunderlich but it has the same warmth and beauty.
He doesn't overinterpret like Bostridge soemtimes does (I greatly admire many of his recordings but his Schwanengesang is too affected in my opinion) Dieskau tends to do this too - please forgive the heresy! Güra allows the natural flow of the music to captivate one. At the same time his diction is excellent and it is really good to hear Schubert Lieder sung and spoken by a German tenor for a change. Do not get the impression that he doesn't interpret the songs and the text - he does this superbly but not overtly. If you care to listen to his older §Schöne Müllerin" recording you will notice how much he has improved.
A few weeks ago Güra's "Winterreise" has bee released here in Germany and from the excerpts I have heard it is otstanding too. In this case he is accompanied by a very good sounding Hammerklavier of Schuberts period or slightly later. Thus adds to the "colour" and expressive possibilities of the songs."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1