BaL 26.03.16 - Schumann: Frauenliebe und -leben

[verismissimo]

My assumption generally is that the great length of Alpies lists is particular to current times. So I was a bit surprised to discover in Alan Blyth's book Song on Record: Lieder that Jeremy Sams's essay on this cycle compared no less than 29 recordings, most of them still in Alpie's list. That was 30 years ago, in 1986.

Versions that seem to be nla, but which I'd like to hear, include: Ginster/Baumgartner, Hoengen/Leitner, Schwarzkopf/Parsons, Seefried/Klien.

My guess is that the Culp/Bake flagged up by LMP was the first recorded - in 1909 - and really excellent it is!

[gurnemanz]

Thanks, LMP and veri, for alerting me to Julia Culp. I remembered her only from some Schubert songs on the EMI Historical box and forgot that I actually do know her Frauenliebe from that EMI Schumann/'Brahms box you mention. It is LP only and I haven't taken note of it for years (just nipped into my garage out of curiosity - looking well used and dating from 1983). A pity they never did a CD follow-up as with the Schubert.

I duly did some Googling and greatly enjoyed rediscovering her Frauenliebe on Youtube - in remarkably good sound for 1909. Anyone with German might enjoy this message on a Frauenliebe discussion on Tamino Klassikform where the contributor delivers some fascinating detail on her life. The CD pictured there is available.

[verismissimo]

Margaret Price is at her best in this cycle, each song brilliantly characterised, her silvery voice ideal. Lockhart at the piano rather penny plain by comparison.

[aeolium]

Margaret Price is at her best in this cycle, each song brilliantly characterised, her silvery voice ideal. Lockhart at the piano rather penny plain by comparison.

All her Schumann recordings are superb imo, with the Kerner Lieder/Liederkreis op 39 disc a particular favourite, especially as Graham Johnson is her accompanist there.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Oh yes, also Elisabeth Schumann - not EA's unaccompanied version, the one with Gerald Moore

How do you know she didn't do an Elton John and accompany herself?

But seriously, thank you for the info. I didn't know the identity of the accompanist.

[LeMartinPecheur]

How do you know she didn't do an Elton John and accompany herself?

It would be very interesting if she ever accompanied herself (herselves?) singing duets! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QgmdwAjb3A

[verismissimo]

Did anyone listen? We have a houseful of guests, who only just departed.

[Barbirollians]

Yes - von Otter won - sounded very good but some rather odd dismissals - Janet Baker because her voice was too heavy for her taste . A brief extract from Ferrier/Newmark which was compelling and which she did not even discuss but wittered on about a review by Cardus of Ferrier singing it in concert .

I was reminded of the Hunt Lieberson which although slow was fantastic .

[VodkaDilc]

Hard to get past Janet Baker with Martin Isepp...

I didn't listen this morning, since I cannot imagine this being surpassed. I also feared, though without evidence, a 2 person chit-chat format.

[kea]

A year or two back I undertook a search for an acceptable rendition of this piece. There are only four deal-breakers I have in singing: (a) continuous vibrato, (b) wide vibrato, (c) insecure intonation and (d) insufficient care in shaping phrases. I found that every rendition I heard used continuous vibrato, and many of them had all four problems, including some very highly regarded recordings. My somewhat depressing conclusion was that there simply are no good recordings of the cycle! (Though in general it seems extremely difficult to find good, low-vibrato recordings of Schumann and Schubert lieder, so maybe not a reflection on this particular work.) I would love to be proven wrong.

(I don't recall the complete list of recordings I sampled but among them were Baker, Ameling, von Otter, Fink, Schwarzkopf, Norman, Bonney, Ferrier, Connolly, Meier, Banse, Auger, Kirchschlager, Fassbaender and a few others. Most of them I had to turn off after less than a minute due to excessive vibrato, though.)

[Don Petter]

I started to listen, though the work is not of great interest to me.

The presentation did nothing grab me further, and when I heard the phrase 'with xxx on the piano' I switched off until 10.30 .

[teamsaint]

I look forward to discovering the many versions that appear to be superior to the Jurinac.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I listened despite my reluctance, recorded above, to spend any more money on this cycle. Yes, the comments from Cardus about Ferrier/ Newmark were difficult to interpret - presumably she sided with him in finding the vocal gestures too big and obvious(?). She didn't mention the other recording with Walter, apparently top choice for Barbirollians, but that I think is understandable: it's a very special, moving document for Ferrier-lovers, but Walter won't win many prizes in the accompaniment stakes surely?

In general I thought the reviewer picked good samples to show strengths and (occasionally) weaknesses. (Glad on this showing that I didn't snap up the Hunt Lieberson in the Wigmore Hall flash sale - see separate thread.) Despite my earlier resolve I could easily have rushed to South American riverbanks in pursuit of Lott, Auger, Banse and - as so often for me - Von Otter But not so far... Will listen to the winner on Monday as hurrah it's a BH, and I might still succumb.

Delightful news incidentally that they've decided to shift the full playing of (or big lump of) the winner to Sunday morning - why has it taken so long when so many of us still have to work on Mondays???

[aeolium]

I couldn't understand the reviewer quoting those Cardus comments about a Ferrier recital which seemed to be about visual gestures, unless she was trying to highlight overemphasis. I thought the Ferrier extract she played was superb, perfectly phrased and emphasised, even though I agreed with the reviewer about preferring a lighter voice in this work. Of the versions I didn't know, I particularly liked Seefried/Werba and Augér/Olbertz.

Why no extract from either of the Margaret Price versions?

[rauschwerk]

My somewhat depressing conclusion was that there simply are no good recordings of the cycle!

You surely must mean that there are no recordings that you like. Not everybody is as averse to moderate vibrato as you appear to be.