BaL 29.10.22 - Schumann: Myrthen

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

10.30 am
Building a Library
Elin Manahan-Thomas’s chooses her favourite recording of Schumann’s Myrthen.

The 26 songs that Schumann published under the title Myrthen (Myrtles) we all were composed in 1840, the year in which great songs flowed out of him in a flood of inspiration. He gave a beautifully bound edition of the Myrthen songs to Clara on the eve of their wedding that year. This cycle contains some of Schumann’s most popular songs such as Der Nussbaum and Die Lotosblume. And some of the greatest Lieder singers from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to Christian Gerhaher have recorded their interpretations of these great songs.


Available versions (but not all - it’s complicated):-


Arleen Auger (soprano), Walter Olbertz

Juliane Banse (soprano), Olaf Bär (bass-baritone), Helmut Deutsch *

Thomas Bauer (baritone), Andrea Lauren Brown (soprano), Uta Hielsche

Adrien Boisseau (viola), Gaspard Dehaene

Diana Damrau (soprano), Helmut Deutsch

Diana Damrau (soprano), Ivan Paley (baritone), Stephan Matthias Lademann *

Diana Damrau (soprano), Ivan Paley (baritone), Stephan Matthias Lademann *

Bernarda Fink (mezzo soprano) Anthony Spiri

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Jörg Demus *

Sophie Koch (mezzo-soprano), Nelson Goerner *

Damien Pass (bass-baritone), Léa Trommenschlager (soprano), Alphonse Cemin

Dorothea Röschmann (soprano), Ian Bostridge (tenor), Graham Johnson

Kian Soltani (cello), Aaron Pilsan

Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto), Michel Dalberto

Camilla Tilling (mezzo-soprano), Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Gerold Huber

* = download only

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have Lynne Dawson and Ian Partridge on Chandos, sadly nla, and ridiculous numbers of the more popular songs on recital discs black and silver: at least 11 Nussbaums, 8 Lotosblumes for example. So I don't think I'll be rushing to swell these ranks but will listen with great interest.

[gurnemanz]

Complicated, as you say.

If done complete by one singer, this can surely only be by a woman. Several songs don't really lend themselves to male rendition, eg the Bride Songs, The Highland Widow and Lied der Suleika. On Alpie's list the new version by Christian Gerhaher has Camilla Tilling on the female songs, but also on the famous Widmung which men often do. Highly praised and a potential winner, I would think.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is listed alone with Jörg Demus, but I don't think this version is complete. His complete version from 1979, accompanied by Christoph Eschenbach, includes Edith Mathis in the female songs. It may not be available. I have it via the DG Schumann Masterworks box, which seems to be still there as a download. (D F-D takes Widmung). All other single-artist versions on the list are female, except the instrumental ones, which I suspect won't be considered.

It is an odd cycle, not really a cycle at all, set to eight poets from the famous Goethe and Heine to the little-known Catherine Fanshawe. There are many fewer recordings of it than of his other cycles and I don't think it is performed complete very often. I have certainly never heard it.

There are a lot of songs (26). All are shortish, some very short, eg Sitz' ich allein at about 35 secs.

The quality of the songs varies from masterpieces, (eg Widmung, Du bist wie eine Blume, which appear extracted in countless selections,) to less distinguished efforts. The two Lieder der Braut, for instance, were described as "fascinating failures" by Eric Sams. I assume only complete cycles will be included.

As complete versions, as well as D F-D/Mathis, I have Ian Bostridge/Dorothea Röschmann with Graham Johnson (excellent) and Nathalie Stutzmann/Michel Dalberto (also excellent - I love a contralto). I shall certainly get around to listening to Gerhaher/Tilling.

[Darloboy]

Only covered by BaL once before, in April 2013 (I hope this doesn’t mean that the producers are reverting to last series’ “Let’s just cover everything we did 10 years ago” format), when Richard Wigmore chose Lynne Dawson/Ian Partridge/Julius Drake.

[Mal]

Only covered by BaL once before, in April 2013 (I hope this doesn’t mean that the producers are reverting to last series’ “Let’s just cover everything we did 10 years ago” format), when Richard Wigmore chose Lynne Dawson/Ian Partridge/Julius Drake.

The last St Matthew was in 2014 so suspicions are raised! (The winning St. M in 2014 wasn't even mentioned in last week's programme. Did the producers say, "as we only did it 8 years ago, better make sure not to pick the same one!...")

[gurnemanz]

Only covered by BaL once before, in April 2013 (I hope this doesn’t mean that the producers are reverting to last series’ “Let’s just cover everything we did 10 years ago” format), when Richard Wigmore chose Lynne Dawson/Ian Partridge/Julius Drake.

Thanks for this info. I don't know that version and see Amazon still have second-hand copies but they won't count for BaL. I was interested to see that on that recording Lynne Dawson takes exactly half the songs (13), including several of the famous ones. Edith Mathis only gets 9, with D F-D (unsurprisingly perhaps) grabbing all the hits. Dorothea Röschmann with Ian Bostridge gets 12 of the 26.

The reviewer might take this allocation to take into account.

[Mandryka]

Complicated, as you say.

If done complete by one singer, this can surely only be by a woman. Several songs don't really lend themselves to male rendition, eg the Bride Songs, The Highland Widow and Lied der Suleika. On Alpie's list the new version by Christian Gerhaher has Camilla Tilling on the female songs, but also on the famous Widmung which men often do. Highly praised and a potential winner, I would think.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is listed alone with Jörg Demus, but I don't think this version is complete. His complete version from 1979, accompanied by Christoph Eschenbach, includes Edith Mathis in the female songs. It may not be available. I have it via the DG Schumann Masterworks box, which seems to be still there as a download. (D F-D takes Widmung). All other single-artist versions on the list are female, except the instrumental ones, which I suspect won't be considered.

It is an odd cycle, not really a cycle at all, set to eight poets from the famous Goethe and Heine to the little-known Catherine Fanshawe. There are many fewer recordings of it than of his other cycles and I don't think it is performed complete very often. I have certainly never heard it.

There are a lot of songs (26). All are shortish, some very short, eg Sitz' ich allein at about 35 secs.

The quality of the songs varies from masterpieces, (eg Widmung, Du bist wie eine Blume, which appear extracted in countless selections,) to less distinguished efforts. The two Lieder der Braut, for instance, were described as "fascinating failures" by Eric Sams. I assume only complete cycles will be included.

As complete versions, as well as D F-D/Mathis, I have Ian Bostridge/Dorothea Röschmann with Graham Johnson (excellent) and Nathalie Stutzmann/Michel Dalberto (also excellent - I love a contralto). I shall certainly get around to listening to Gerhaher/Tilling.

Munteanu outstanding in the lieder der braut. Shows that it can be done - but like all 19th century song you need someone who’s good with the poem, the words, not just good at singing.

[Mandryka]

Myrthen complete. Nellie van der Sijde and Maarten Koningsberger on Globe - sensitive poetry more often as not delivered humbly, in an understated but nuanced way. Room sized - not projected like in a grand opera.

[BBMmk2]

I’m not a great lover of Lieder, so. I’ll miss this one.

[gurnemanz]

For me, one of the best BaLs for a while. Elin Manahan-Thomas's review was rich in singer' s insights and affection for the songs. 13 recordings were considered, which seems to include all key available contenders - beautiful songs which were a loving present from one great musician to another.

I think I'll go for the new Gerhaher/Tilling recording as a download.

[edashtav]

For me, one of the best BaLs for a while. Elin Manahan-Thomas's review was rich in singer' s insights and affection for the songs. 13 recordings were considered, which seems to include all key available contenders - beautiful songs which were a loving present from one great musician to another.

I think I'll go for the new Gerhaher/Tilling recording as a download.

Not a great BaL for me, as I find Elin Manahan-Thomas‘s concentration on the singer rather than the song mildly irritating. However, a good final choice.

[CallMePaul]

Not a great BaL for me, as I find Elin Manahan-Thomas‘s concentration on the singer rather than the song mildly irritating. However, a good final choice.

She also concentrated on the female singers and said much less about the men, with virtually nothing about pianists, who should be seen as equal partners with the singer in Schumann.

[edashtav]

She also concentrated on the female singers and said much less about the men, with virtually nothing about pianists, who should be seen as equal partners with the singer in Schumann.

[Mal]

Was Thomas Bauer (baritone), Andrea Lauren Brown (soprano), Uta Hielsche discussed?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... who should be seen as equal partners with the singer in Schumann.

So true... and not just in Schumann.