Search - Thomas E. Bauer, Robert Schumann, Uta Hielscher :: Schumann: Liederkreis, Op. 24; Dichterliebe

Exploring Robert Schumann's Lieder on Naxos

Robin Friedman | Washington, D.C. United States | 05/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is the first in a projected series of the complete songs of Robert Schumann (1801 - 1856) on the budget-priced Naxos label. This project is an outstanding follow-up to the ongoing recording on Naxos of the complete Schubert songs. The Schubert series and the new Schumann series should help introduce many listeners to the world of the art song by two of its greatest masters. This is a great way to get to know song at a budget price. These CDs will also be welcome to those listeners who already love art song.



This opening CD features two young performers, baritone Thomas Bauer and pianist Uta Heischer. The CD includes Schumann's song-cycles "Dicterliebe" opus 48, the early song-cycle "Liederkreis" opus 24, (Schumann composed another "Liederkreis" cycle, opus 39, which is not included on this disk.) together with two additional songs. Bauer and Heischer play beautifully together. Bauer sings with passion.



Schumann's songs are intimate, personal, and poetic. In a word, they are intense. The songs are ideally suited for home listening when one is alone with oneself. Schumann's songs feature beautiful and elaborate piano settings, including lengthy postludes for many songs, with the piano commenting and elaborating on the poetry as an equal partner to the voice.



The songs on this CD all set the poetry of Heinrich Heine. Schumann's "Dicterliebe" (poet's love) is probably his greatest achievement in song, and it is sublime music indeed. In 16 short songs, it tells of the story of love lost. The cycle opens with the famous song "In the wonderous month of May" with its haunting piano figure, melancholy, and harmonic ambiguity. It includes beautiful love music, such as "when I look into your eyes' (no. 4), the ironic, "I won't complain" (no. 7) and the concluding song of grief, "the old evil songs" (no. 16) This is romantic music at its greatest in its intimacy, melody, passion and shifts of mood.



Schumann's "Liederkries" opus 24, consists of nine songs also set to the poetry of Heine which sing of unhappy love. These songs are very short and of varied moods, some quiet, dejected, and melancholy, others angry and passionate. The climax of this set is the final song, "with myrtle and roses" in which the poet and composer implore the distant lover through song.



The remaining two songs on the disc are "Belshazzar", opus 57, which sets Heine's poem based on a biblical story from the Book of Daniel, and "Poor Peter", opus 53 no. 3, a thorough-composed songs which begins lightly and ends with love lost.



The CD, unfortunately, does not include the texts or translations of the songs in order to, the liner notes state, keep the costs of producing these disks at a manageable level. These texts are essential to following Schumann's music. Fortunately, Naxos has made the texts and translations available on its website where they can be downloaded.



Many music lovers remain unfamiliar with the world of art song. The music on this CD is personal, beautiful, and precious. It is deeply emotional music which pulls the heart. May this initial CD of Schumann songs and its companion CDs encourage many listeners to explore the worlds of the Schumann and Schubert lieder.



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