Lunchtime Concert Florian Boesch (baritone); Schubert, Wolf; Monday 27th Jan

[Lento]

What a very SERIOUS recital from Wigmore! No "dumbing down" here, and no remedy for the Monday blues either, I'd have thought.

[Thropplenoggin]

I was in the hall for this with Mrs. T. I don't really have words for how affecting a recital it was. Boesch inhabited each song, offering immense nuance and tonal colouring in both the Schubert and Wolf. It's a voice I warmed to right away, and the easy symbiosis between pianist and singer was very apparent (they have recorded two Schubert song cycles together), tho' nothing quite prepared us for the visceral explosion of Wolf's 'Prometheus'! Schubert's 'Grenzen der Menschheit' has been sung by many great baritones (Gottlob Frick, DFD); Boesch's rich warm bass and excellent range was able to do justice to this long, involving lied. He employs a limited vibrato and has a lovely mellifluous top to his voice that never risks becoming monotonous (Gerharher) or crooning (Goerne), which was heard well in 'Wandrers Nachtlied I' and the delightful Wolf encore. I have been encouraged by this performance to seek out more Wolf.

SMP introduced proceedings and offered to hang around to answer questions at the end...for 5 whole minutes! Perhaps she didn't want to be on the receiving end of R3 listener opprobrium.

I wonder if someone would kindly explain how I might acquire this performance for posterity, by PM perhaps, as it's one I'd love to return to.

[Lento]

I was struck by the "progressive" (or should I say not entirely expected) style of the Schubert settings, not knowing this repertoire; the Wolf came as less of a surprise, curiously! All to do with expectations, I suppose, but wonderful singing and playing.

[gurnemanz]

Really annoyed not to live a bit nearer to London. I'm sure I would have gone along. Schubert/Prometheus really got hold of me like something new to my ears although I know the song (and poem) really well (including DFD + a frightening Wagnerian rendering from Josef Greindl). The recitative passages are extraordinary. What a good idea to have a Prometheus sandwich. Both are mini operas, the Wolf almost more overwhelming. I've just listened again on iPlayer and played Hotter with Moore and DFD live with Richter.

[Thropplenoggin]

I was struck by the "progressive" (or should I say not entirely expected) style of the Schubert settings, not knowing this repertoire; the Wolf came as less of a surprise, curiously! All to do with expectations, I suppose, but wonderful singing and playing.

Very intelligent programming, I thought, especially bookending the recital with two versions of Goethe's Prometheus - Schubert's from 1819 and Wolf's from 1889.

[Flay]

I wonder if someone would kindly explain how I might acquire this performance for posterity, by PM perhaps, as it's one I'd love to return to.

It sounded excellent on the radio, although I could not listen to it all (dental appointment)

I use Total Recorder to record from iPlayer.

I might start a Techie thread about TR soon because I don't think I use it to its full capability.

[Thropplenoggin]

It sounded excellent on the radio, although I could not listen to it all (dental appointment)

I use Total Recorder to record from iPlayer.

I might start a Techie thread about TR soon because I don't think I use it to its full capability.

Thanks, Flay! Most helpful.

[Flay]

Thanks, Flay! Most helpful.

http://www.totalrecorder.com/productfr_tr.htm

It costs about 14 quid

[Nick Armstrong]

I wonder if someone would kindly explain how I might acquire this performance for posterity, by PM perhaps, as it's one I'd love to return to.

Check your PMs, T-Nog