Search - Johannes Brahms, Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Hugo [Composer] Wolf :: Seefried: Brahms; Schubert; Wolf

Coming in the midst of what was a golden age for lieder interpretation, with almost all the great singers well represented on disc, Irmgard Seefried is perhaps less well known to listeners today, making archive releases such as this, recorded in 1962, a welcome reminder of her very individual artistry. Whereas many of her contemporaries emphasize either word-meaning and coloring, or the purely musical virtues of line and phrasing, Seefried combines both approaches in a demonstration of singing as eloquent as it is unforced. There's a real appreciation too for the diverse profiles of the composers represented. Brahms emerges almost playfully in the folksong selections; Schubert guileless and vulnerable in his Goethe songs, including the poignant Mignon settings; Wolf as emotionally volatile in his treatment of the same texts, with Erik Werba making the most of their combative and intricate piano parts. In the interview sequence, Seefried speaks of her need to constantly expand her repertoire and deepen her insights. As you'll hear on this disc, it was an approach that made her interpretations something special. --Richard Whitehouse