Well-Known Lieder
- By Brahms and Schumann.
While most of the posts at my Blog are likely to feature instrumentalists and orchestral selections, I felt that this collection of songs (German: “Lieder”) would be enjoyable for most of my readers.
We get to listen to the following selections:
Johannes Brahms:
- Dein blaues Auge, (No. 8 from Acht Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 59)
- Meine Liebe ist grün, Op. 63 No. 5
- Der Schmied Op. 19/4
- Ständchen, Op. 106 No. 1
- Wir wandelten, wir zwei zusammen Op. 96/2
- Wie Melodien zieht es mir, Op. 105 No. 1
- Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No. 4 (Lullaby)
Robert Schumann:
- Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart, Op. 135
- Lieder und Gesänge aus Goethes Wilhelm Meister, Op. 98a
- Ich denke dein, Op. 78, No. 3
- Hoch, hoch sind die Berge, Op. 138, No. 8 (from Spanische Liebeslieder)
- Familien-Gemälde, Op. 34 No. 4
- So wahr die Sonne scheinet, Op. 37, No. 12
- Ich bin dein Baum, Op. 101 No. 3
These songs are performed by Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano) with Malcolm Martineau, Hester Dickson, Benjamin Appl, John Mark Ainsley & Johnny Langridge.
“Brahms & Schumann: Lieder”, Ann Murray’s first solo album in over a decade, will be her final Lieder recording and a fitting way to draw her long and distinguished recording career to a close.
Still a regular soloist on the opera circuit, Ms. Murray’s voice remains impressive. Following a Brahms recital at Wigmore Hall earlier this year, The Times wrote:
‘Her still-penetrating mezzo was the highlight of the evening. Murray really sings through Brahms’ cantabile lines while losing nothing in theatrical awareness.’
Ann Murray performs regularly with the Glyndebourne Festival, English National Opera, the Royal Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, New York and has been a regular guest at the BBC Proms.
Gramophone Magazine wrote earlier this month:
“Murray has the art of increasing the tension without raising the volume…And given every encouragement by Malcolm Martineau’s deft pianism, she brings a coquettish charm, without winsomeness, to the song of the flighty actress Philine, first cousin to Strauss’s Zerbinetta”
Here is Ann Murray in 1.5 minutes of highlights from this CD:
And next, here is something different: Ann Murray in “Irish ballad”:
Tags: Ann Murray, Schumann, Brahms, Lieder, Malcolm Martineau, Hester Dickson, Benjamin Appl, John Mark Ainsley