Schubert: Rosamunde

On this CD:

1. Die Zauberharfe, melodrama, D. 644 Overture
Composed by Franz Schubert

Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

2. Rosamunde, Fürstin von Cypern, incidental music, D. 797 (Op. 26)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Martin Neubauer, Gert Westphal
Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

3. Rosamunde (play) Scene: Oh, sie ist schön!
Composed by Helmina von Chezy

Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

4. Rosamunde, Fürstin von Cypern, incidental music, D. 797 (Op. 26) Ballet Music II and Scene (includes excerpts of Chézy's drama)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Martin Neubauer, Gert Westphal
Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

5. Alfonso und Estrella, opera, D. 732 Overture
Composed by Franz Schubert

Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

6. Rosamunde, Fürstin von Cypern, incidental music, D. 797 (Op. 26) Axa's Romance (includes excerpts of Chézy's drama)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Mechthild Georg
Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

7. Rosamunde (play) Scene: Oh, sie ist schön!
Composed by Helmina von Chezy
Performed by Gert Westphal
Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

8. Rosamunde, Fürstin von Cypern, incidental music, D. 797 (Op. 26) Shepherds' Melodies and Scene (includes excerpts of Chézy's drama)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Martin Neubauer, Gert Westphal
Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

9. Rosamunde, Fürstin von Cypern, incidental music, D. 797 (Op. 26) Spectres' Chorus and Scene (includes excerpts of Chézy's drama)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Gert Westphal
Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

10. Rosamunde (play) Scene: O schöne Stunde!
Composed by Helmina von Chezy
Performed by Martin Neubauer
Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

11. Rosamunde (play) Scene: Dem letzten seiner Treuen
Composed by Helmina von Chezy
Performed by Gert Westphal
Conducted by Helmuth Froschauer

Tracks:

Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Piano Concerto In A Major, K 488: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Flute Concerto In D Major, K 314: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Symphony No. 40 in G minor: Molto allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Clarinet Concerto KV 622: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Serenade, K 375: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Turkish March - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Violin Concerto, K 216: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Divertimento, K 334: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Horn Concerto, K 447: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Cassation, K 99: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Tracks:

Overture No. 4 In Major: Rejouissance - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 3 In D Major: Air - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: I. Allegro - J.S.Bach
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 2 In B Minor: Menuet & Badinerie - J.S.Bach
Prelude In C Major - J.S.Bach
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor - J.S.Bach
Prelude In C Minor - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 1 In C Major: Passepied - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F Major: II. Adagio - J.S.Bach
Kommst du nun, Jesu vom Himmel herunter, Chorale - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: II. Allegro - J.S.Bach
Violin Concerto In E Major: I. Adagio - J.S.Bach
St. Matthew Passion: Finale Chorus: 'Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder' - J.S.Bach

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5: Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Fur Elise - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Violin Romance No. 2 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio sostenuto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Minuet - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 8 In F Major: Allegretto scherzando - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Coriolan: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Egmont: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Die Fledermaus: Die Fledermaus (Excerpts) - Johann Strauss
Wine, Woman And Song - Johann Strauss
Tritsch Tratsch Polka - Johann Strauss
The Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
The Gypsy Baron: Introduction - Johann Strauss
Annen Polka - Johann Strauss
Vienna Blood - Johann Strauss
The Gypsy Baron: Einzugsmarsch - Johann Strauss

Tracks:

Tannhauser: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Dance Of The Prentices - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude Act 3 - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Aufzug der Meistersinger - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Der fliegende Hollander: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Lohengrin: Prelude - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Tristan und Isolde: Prelude And Liebestod - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Tannhauser: Arrival Of The Guests At Wartburg - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1: Allegro non troppo - Peter Tchaikovsky
String Serenade: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto: Andante - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Introduction - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Pas d'action - Adagio - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Capriccio italien Op. 45 - Peter Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Scene No. 10 - Peter Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Eugene Onegin: Polonaise - Peter Tchaikovsky

Tracks:

The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 1 In E Major: Spring - VIVALDI, Antonio
Siciliano - VIVALDI, Antonio
Concerto In D Minor:: (Allegro Assai) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Summer - VIVALDI, Antonio
Oboe Sonata In B Flat Major, RV 34: Adagio - Allegro - Largo - Allegro - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 3 In F Major: Autumn - VIVALDI, Antonio
Oboe Concerto: Allegro non tasto - Largo - Allegro non molto - VIVALDI, Antonio
Concerto In D Minor: (Largo e spiccato) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 4 In F Minor: Winter - VIVALDI, Antonio

Tracks:

Scherzo No 1 In B Minor, Op. 20 - Frederic Chopin_
Three Nocturnes, Op. 9: No 3 In B Major - Frederic Chopin_
Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No 5 In G Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No 10 In B Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 In F Sharp Major - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 14 In E Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 In D Flat Major 'Raindrops' - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 16 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 18 In F Minor - Frederic Chopin_
Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31 - Frederic Chopin_
Waltz In E Flat Major, Op. 18 - Frederic Chopin_
Nocturne In C Sharp Minor, Op. Posth. - Frederic Chopin_
Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 3 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 4 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_

Tracks:

Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
Impromptu In E Flat Major - Franz Schubert
Standchen - Franz Schubert
Trout Quintet: Tema con variazioni - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 1 - Franz Schubert
Moment Musical In A Flat Major - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 2 - Franz Schubert
Moment Musical No. 3 In F Minor - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Ballet Music No.2 - Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato - Franz Schubert

Tracks:

Nabucco: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
Nabucco: Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate - Verdi, Giuseppe
Aida: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
II Trovatore: Verdi! le fosche notturne (Gypsies' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
II Trovatore: Or co' daddi, ma fra poco (Soldiers' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
Aroldo: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Noi siamo zingarelle - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata:: Libiamo ne' lieti calici - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Di Madride noi siam mattadori - Verdi, Giuseppe
La forza del destino: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe

Customer Reviews:

masters of classical music.......2007-03-26

A nice collection for the classical listener. Great variety of composers and the music quality of the cds are very good.

A good basic collection.......2006-11-10

With selections from numerous composers, it is an easy way to familiarize oneself with some of the most popular classical works and excerpts. A pleasant listen for the initiated too.

An excellent introduction to classical music.......2006-10-18

This is an excellent introduction to classical music. Well performed and presented.

Very Beautiful!!!!!1.......2006-10-05

If you are a fan of classical music then you better get this set. Not only is it very cheap, 10 Discs for about 2$ per disk. Now where are you gonna find a deal like this. I actually found mine chaper, $20.00 even and the music is outstanding. If you had a very bad day and very stressed out, just put in one of these cds, lay down, dim down the lights and just relax. It really helped me out.

Still Stuck on Beethoven.......2006-08-22

I just recently started listening to classical music so I'm certainly not one to compare or critique the quality of this set. However, I do have a few comments...

My interest started in this genre of music because I'm researching my ancestry in Prussia and this is the music of those times. Never mind my ancestors were poor peasants who probably never got the chance to hear such wonderful music... when listening to these CDs, I'm taken back in time... to a royal court in Europe... to another place in time. The music is inspiring, relaxing, invigorating.

I have yet to listen to all the CD's in the set. I'm stuck on Beethoven! Wasn't he AWESOME!?!

I think this set is a wonderful introduction to classical music!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Schubert: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002A29
Release Date: 1994-08-09

Tracks:

Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato
Marche Militaire, Op. 51, No.1
Ave Maria
Serenade
Erlkonig
Rosamunde Overture
Impromptu In E-Flat Major, Op. 90, No. 2
Death And The Maiden String Quartet In D Minor: IV Presto
Moment Musical In F Minor Op. 94, No3
Trout Quintet For Piano & Strings In A Major: III Scherzo Presto
Symphony No. 9 In C Major 'The Great': I Andante - Allegro ma non troppo

Average customer rating:

inspired performance !!!

The Story of Schubert

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001KCT
Release Date: 1994-02-28

Tracks:

Rosamunde, D. 797: Overture
Mozart: String Quartet In B-Flat Major, K. 172
Marche Militaire, D. 733, No. 1
Hark, Hark, The Lark!, D. 889
Mass No. 5 In A-Flat Major, D. 678: Credo
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485: Allegro
Symphony No. 4 In C Minor, D. 417 'Tragic': Finale: Allegro
Moment Musicaux No. 3 In F Minor, D. 780
Piano Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: Moderato
The Erl King, D. 328
Symphony No. 2 In B-Flat Major, D. 125: Allegro
Symphony No. 6 In C Major, D. 589 'Little': Andante
Symphony No. 6 In C Major, D. 589 'Little': Scherzo
To Music, D. 547
The Trout, D. 550
Piano Quintet In A Major, D. 667 'Trout': Theme And Variations
Octet In F Major, D. 803: Finale
Impromptu In B-Flat Major, D. 935 No. 3
String Quintet In C Major, D. 956: Allegro ma non troppo
Wanderer Fantasy In C Major, D. 760
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor, D. 759 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 9 In C Major, D. 944 'Great': Andante-Allegro ma non troppo
Mass No. 6 IN E-Flat Major, D. 950: Gloria
String Quartet No. 14 In D Minor, D. 810 'Death And The Maiden': Andante con moto
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor, D. 759 'Unfinished': Andante
Ave Maria, D. 839
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Complete): Allegro
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Complete): Andante con moto
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Complete): Menuetto: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Complete): Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews:

inspired performance !!!.......2001-09-02

this collection deserves more than 5 stars.peter maag and the philharmonica hungarica are in top form.this is the best ever of schubert's fifth and eigth i have ever listened to.it is not karl bohm or leonard bernstein or george szell or lorin maazel.
truly the hungarians inspired by maag easily beat all the other top orchestras.
the orchestral texture is transparent with a perfect balance among the string sections ,the woodwind and the brass sections.peter maag obviously loves this music and brings out the heavenly beauty ,the pathos and the monumental dramatic quality of these works.
just listen to schubert's fifth second movement which ends with a heart rending cello phrase.
it is a shame that the well established record companies have not thought it fit to record more of peter maag.in my opinion he is one of the greatest ever conductors.
i will not exchange these performances for any other!

Schubert: The Late String Quartets; String Quintet

Average customer rating:

FULL APPRECIATION

Schubert: The Late String Quartets; String Quintet

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001ZWGI8
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Customer Reviews:

FULL APPRECIATION.......2007-03-20

Until this bargain priced recording on three discs of the Emerson Quartet playing Schubert`s last four string quartets (included also is the String Quintet in C major, D956 featuring Rostropovich on cello), down through the years, I really did not have too much of an appreciation for Schubert's Quartets # 12, 13, 14, 15. For some reason their beauty eluded me. Now, with this recording, I love the works especially the #15 in G major. It is indeed filled with drama, pathos and great beauty. I don't think I can blame this "new found" appreciation on any maturation on my part. I really believe, it's soley due to the exquisite playing of the Emerson Quartet. They really play these works not like they are "walking on eggshells" but with vigor, passion and beauty. Also, I'm sure, that the wonderful recorded sound helped in my appreciation too.

I plan on seeking out more Schubert performed by the Emerson Quartet--they are so very good!!

Average customer rating:

This set or the Auryn Quartet set?
Buy it for the right reasons
Great Music for a Good Price

Schubert: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00002DEH3
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

String Quartet (In Various Keys), D 18 (No.1): Andante - Presto vivace
String Quartet (In Various Keys), D 18 (No.1): Menuetto
String Quartet (In Various Keys), D 18 (No.1): Andante
String Quartet (In Various Keys), D 18 (No.1): Presto
String Quartet in C major, D 32 (No.2): Presto
String Quartet in C major, D 32 (No.2): Andante
String Quartet in C major, D 32 (No.2): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet in C major, D 32 (No.2): Allegro con spirito
String Quartet in B flat major, D 36 (No.3): Allegro
String Quartet in B flat major, D 36 (No.3): Andante
String Quartet in B flat major, D 36 (No.3): Menuetto. Allegro non troppo
String Quartet in B flat major, D 36 (No.3): Allegretto
Quartet Movement In C Minor, D 103: Grave - Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet in C major, D 46 (No.4): Adagio - Allegro con moto
String Quartet in C major, D 46 (No.4): Andante con moto
String Quartet in C major, D 46 (No.4): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet in C major, D 46 (No.4): Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, D 68 (No.5): Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, D 68 (No.5): Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, D 74 (No. 6): Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In D Major, D 74 (No. 6): Andante
String Quartet In D Major, D 74 (No. 6): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, D 74 (No. 6): Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In D Major, D 94 (No. 7): Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, D 94 (No. 7): Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Major, D 94 (No. 7): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, D 94 (No. 7): Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, D 112 (No. 8): Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, D 112 (No. 8): Andante sostenuto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, D 112 (No. 8): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, D 112 (No. 8): Presto
String Quartet In G Minor, D 173 (No. 9): Allegro con brio
String Quartet In G Minor, D 173 (No. 9): Andantino
String Quartet In G Minor, D 173 (No. 9): Menuetto. Allegro vivace
String Quartet In G Minor, D 173 (No. 9): Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 1, D 87 (No. 10): Allegro moderato
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 1, D 87 (No. 10): Adagio
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 1, D 87 (No. 10): Scherzo. Prestissimo
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 1, D 87 (No. 10): Allegro
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D 804 (No. 13) 'Rosamunde': Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D 804 (No. 13) 'Rosamunde': Andante
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D 804 (No. 13) 'Rosamunde': Menuetto. Allegretto
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D 804 (No. 13) 'Rosamunde': Allegro moderato

Tracks:

String Quartet In E Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 2, D 353 (No. 11): Allegro con fuoco
String Quartet In E Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 2, D 353 (No. 11): Andante
String Quartet In E Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 2, D 353 (No. 11): Menuetto. Allegro vivace
String Quartet In E Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 2, D 353 (No. 11): Rondo. Allegro vivace
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 (No. 14) 'Death And The Maiden': Allegro
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 (No. 14) 'Death And The Maiden': Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 (No. 14) 'Death And The Maiden': Scherzo. Allegro molto
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 (No. 14) 'Death And The Maiden': Presto

Tracks:

Quartet Movement In C Minor, D 703 (No. 12): Allegro assai
String Quartet In G Major, Op. Post. 161, D 887 (No. 15): Allegro molto moderato
String Quartet In G Major, Op. Post. 161, D 887 (No. 15): Andante un poco moto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. Post. 161, D 887 (No. 15): Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio. Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. Post. 161, D 887 (No. 15): Allegro assai

Customer Reviews:

This set or the Auryn Quartet set?.......2004-06-06

I read, in a book on string quartets, the statement: "More than half of the best string quartets had been written when Schubert died in 1828". I agree, but would put the percentage at more like 75 or 80%. The author went on to include all of Schubert's, even those that he wrote as a teenager. I was surprised by this comment, but now, having now heard his complete string quartets, I have to agree. Even his early ones are superb!

To the recordings: I was just a bit disappointed. The sound seems a bit harsh in places, not as warm as sets I have by the Quartetto Italiano (Beethoven), Melos Quartet (Mozart) and Aoelian Q (Haydn). No doubt they are technically very correct, and show real liveliness - the violins just sound a bit scratchy in places.

The only other complete set seems to be the Auryn Quartet recording, highly recommended by the Penguin guide, but twice as expensive. Naxos offers 12 or the 15 quartets on 5 separate CDs. I'd liked to have heard the Auryn recording before I'd made the decision to purchase this one - who knows, I might have made the same decision anyway.

Buy it for the right reasons.......2002-10-04

I agree with the other review, but there is an alternative to this set, by the Auryn Quartet, and it is also excellent. So, buy this set for the right reasons, whatever those are, such as: the sound quality of this Chamber Ensemble (extremely warm)
or the overall feel of their playing (caring, respectful). Buy the set from the Auryn quartet if you care more about the sound quality of the recording (it is noticeably better) or if you happen to like a younger, slightly more aggressive approach.
Frankly I have both sets, and love both.

Great Music for a Good Price.......2002-05-02

I bought this set in Dec. '01 and it has since become a favorite in my collection. Schubert is a great composer and in my opinion, the quartets are where he really shines.

Sadly, it is hard to find recordings of all but the last four. In total, there are fourteen plus two fragments- one incomplete and one lost. They are all here and at such a good deal!

The first two discs (first five quartets and a fragment) really stand out. These were quartets Schubert composed as a student and they capture well the energy of youth and have a beautifully simple quality that always makes Schubert stand out. The middle discs track his early career with a more mature motif development revealing a taste of the boldness to come from his later quartets. Not as melodic as the first quartets in my opinion, but a treat nonetheless. Then ah! the last three discs. "Rosamunde," "Death and the maiden," Quartettstatz and C 703. Can you possibly go wrong? Don't answer that. You know it doesn't get better!!

Now we come to recording quality. Well, the Melos Quartet recorded these in the mid 70's. They've been digitally touched up and well done. Still, not convincing enough to sound like new. Treble and Mid is alright but the Bass is really lacking and overall, it still lacks the full sound of recordings from the Emerson and Tokyo quartets. Still, with touchup, these recordings sound more like late 80's- Not Bad!

Tracks:

Caprice Viennois
Tambourin Chinois
Schon Rosmarin
La Gitana
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud
Polichinelle
Rondino
La Precieuse
Chanson Louis XIII & Pavane
Scherzo
Gavotte
The Londonderry Air
Ballet No.2
The Old Refrain
Poupee Valsante
Andante Cantabile
Humoresque
Serenade Espagnole
Larghetto
Midnight Bells
Chanson Hindoue
Lotus Land
Danza Espagnola

Franz Schubert: String Quartets D 804 "Rosamunde", D 810 "Death and the Maiden", D 887, D 703 and String Quintet D 956

Average customer rating:

SO MUCH THAT I WANT EVEN MORE
Schubert's late chamber masterpieces
Awesome music, interesting performance
Schubert + Emerson = Listener Satisfaction
Good but not Best

Franz Schubert: String Quartets D 804 "Rosamunde", D 810 "Death and the Maiden", D 887, D 703 and String Quintet D 956
Franz Schubert , Emerson String Quartet , and Mstislav Rostropovich
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Haydn Project
Webern: Works for String Quartet
Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
Schumann: Op. Nos. 44 & 47
Intimate Voices

ASIN: B00000I0L8
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

String Quartet In A Minor, D 804, Op. 29: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In A Minor, D 804, Op. 29: 2. Andante
String Quartet In A Minor, D 804, Op. 29: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
String Quartet In A Minor, D 804, Op. 29: 4. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 'Death And The Maiden': 1. Allegro
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 'Death And The Maiden': 2. Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 'Death And The Maiden': 3. Scherzo. Allegro molto - Trio
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 'Death And The Maiden': 4. Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In G Major, D 887: 1. Allegro molto moderato
String Quartet In G Major, D 887: 2. Andante un poco mosso
String Quartet In G Major, D 887: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio. Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, D 887: 4. Allegro assai
Quartet Movement In C Minor, D 703: 5. Allegro assai
Quartet Movement In C Minor, D 703: 6. Andante (fragment)

Tracks:

String Quintet In C Major, D 956: 1. Allegro ma non troppo - Franz Schubert
String Quintet In C Major, D 956: 2. Adagio - Franz Schubert
String Quintet In C Major, D 956: 3. Scherzo, Presto - Trio, Andante sostenuto - Franz Schubert
String Quintet In C Major, D 956: 4. Allegretto - Franz Schubert

Customer Reviews:

SO MUCH THAT I WANT EVEN MORE.......2007-05-24

To say the least, nobody purchasing this set is likely to regret it. Just at the pedestrian level of value-for-quantity the value is brilliant, and at the artistic level it is more brilliant still. The professionalism and technical proficiency of the Emerson group probably needs little highlighting by now, but these players are musicians first and foremost. Apart from perfect intonation and ultra-perfect ensemble they have added variety to their unfailing beauty of sound. The start of the G major quartet, which can sometimes be a bit of an assault on the ears, is done ideally, with the exploding chords sonorous and majestic. At the other end of the volume-scale there is a wonderful breathless hush near the end of the variations in the D minor, and in this same quartet I don't think I ever heard the enchanting second subject of the first movement phrased so beautifully.

How do they relate to Schubert? For me, Schubert is a composer apart. All his compositions are early works, and in the five pieces comprised in this set I sense a steady advance in certainty and consistency. By the time of the quintet he is fully inside his own individual style, but at every stage of his development there are sequences in which someone or something beyond the merely human seems to be speaking or singing, using him as a mouthpiece, and it taxes even the greatest of his exponents to detect and express these. They are not a matter of one specific idiom, but of several, and the better the interpreters handle such passages the more I find myself longing for some ideal that I refuse to consider unreachable, because I have always heard it reached by someone at some time. One issue is represented by the second subject in the G major's first movement. When this comes round for the second time, in the recapitulation with new counterpoint, the Emersons are perfect for me. However at its first appearance this theme, with its muttering self-repetitions, has a somnambulistic air to it that the Novak quartet on my old LP capture ideally for me, and I wonder whether the Emersons are just a little bright-eyed and clean-limbed. The sense of that grew on me as the set progressed. The great melody from the first movement of the quintet (with Rostropovich on the second cello) suits me fine as they do it, but in the trio of the G major's scherzo while they sing the melody like angels what I want is not people like angels but the angels themselves. I have heard them in this movement before. In a different mode of expression there is the G major's last movement. Schubert produced a similar finale to his late C minor piano sonata, and I would have been more than satisfied with the Emersons here, particularly with the magnificent tone at the end, if I did not know Ogdon's performance of the sonata movement, one of the greatest interpretations I ever heard, with the whole huge piece seemingly taken in a single breath.

The very first and the very last things on this set are especially testing for interpreters of Schubert. The last movement in the quintet, a piece in a very special Schubertian idiom, is my idea of unqualified perfection here. The speed is not too fast, the variations in pace are superbly judged, there is the right sense of a heavy and almost dragging undertow to the rhythm in the accompaniment, and the phrasing of the second theme is something to live for. The set starts with the A minor quartet, and here I held my breath, because with that opening theme we are communing with something not of this world. Verdi, so immune in general to German influence and so gifted with melody himself, explicitly takes off his hat to it at the start of his Requiem. The balance of the melody against the hypnotic wavy accompaniment is perfect here, so is it my absolute ideal? It's somewhere near it at least.

Only one movement out of the whole eighteen seems to me not quite right. The last movement of the D minor is a little fast for my liking, but I could live with that. However the Emersons' fast tempo really does seem symptomatic of a sense that they have missed a deeper tone to the movement, and I felt that in the cadence-theme to the exposition and recapitulation in particular. My thoughts reverted to how this is done by the Gabrieli Quartet on my beloved old LP, with the impression of an apparition of the four horsemen of somewhere that makes me catch my breath to this day. On the other hand, for many people the high spot of such a set is likely to be the slow movement of the quintet, and I can report a reading to rank with the finest here, time held in abeyance as it should be and the control of the sustained long notes perfect beyond perfection.

The set dates from as long ago as 1988, I see, and I wonder how these divinely gifted artists do these pieces nearly twenty years on. The recording is excellent, an absolute necessity for playing like this. The liner notes are also good, except for the one on the quintet, and I seem not to have mentioned so far that we are given the outstandingly lovely fragment of the intended slow movement to the Quartettsatz. Altogether, an outstanding issue in nearly every way. I am reminded of Schubert's epitaph `A rich treasure and still fairer hopes'. These players are young enough to do these quartets again, as they are to do Beethoven's again, and I hope I am still young enough to hear how they do them.

Schubert's late chamber masterpieces.......2005-10-29

The strong points of this 3-CD set are: (1) the immeasurably rich compositions from Schubert, (2) the excellent coupling of the last four quartets with the quintet, (3) the above-average Emerson Quartet performance and (4) the superb value from DG. If you are not familiar with Schubert's chamber works, these four quartets and string quintet are very late masterpieces and some of Schubert's most intricate, mature and monumental compositions. These, along with Schubert's late piano sonatas, reveal glimpses into his deep struggles and pain (through the explosive, dissonant outbursts) but also tender moments of joy and repose as well. It seemed in his final year or two that he was emerging into a consumate maturity as a composer - which tragically was cut short by his early death (supposedly due to complications from Syphilis). The quintet is especially magnificant with each movement being as towering as the next.

There is no arguing that the Emerson Quartet stands among the finest current quartets around. Whether you gravitate to their particular style and sound is quite a personal matter. Certainly, the Emersons get strong accolades for their late Beethoven and recordings of more modern (and 'edgy') composers. In such bold, purcussive and chromatic music they seem to excel and find their greatest expression. Schubert - while 'edgy' in his own way in these late chamber works - still composed in the somewhat-restrained Vienesse tradition (being born and bread in Vienna himself) although parallels to Beethoven are abundent in the music here. Consequently, Schubert's chamber music has still a strong classical flavor and typical Schubertian lyricism. Like another reviewer mentioned, the Emerson Quartet's style is a bit more "direct" and "sharp" in terms of phrasing, articulations and tonality somewhat. Some call their style "A Manhattan style" - I guess suggesting the directness that people from Manhattan are known for (no offense to New Yorkers).

Regardless, the Emerson's style becomes more apparent when comparing with European quartets like the Alban Berg, the Quartetto Italiano and the Quatuor Mosaiques - all of which perform this music with what is often described as a more traditional "Old World Austrian style" (particular the Alban Berg Quartet who hails from Austria). So, while the Emerson's put forth dramatic, precise and interesting readings here, I think at times they "attack" the music too aggressively for its intent and period in history. Schubert was first and foremost a master of melody and lyricism - which does not go away even in his most dissonant and explosive momements. There just seems - at times - an overly-direct expressiveness and tempos that are driven a bit too quickly from the Emersons and a lack of the needed elegance and lyrical smoothness of Schubert's music when called for. But, such things are nuance and not a matter of right or wrong really. However, this quartet dynamic brings out the needed emotive effect in pieces like the potent G-major scherzo movement or the electifying Quartetsalz. Ditto that as well for the great quintet in C major - which a live recording with the legendary cellist, Rostropovich. So, the Emerson's playing here on the whole is impeccably precise and consumately professional so it is more a question whether you like their style nuances as compared to others.

Part of this above conclusion may be colored in part by the sound quality here on DG, which I found to be deficient in tone richness and resonant depth. It just sounds stark and dry - lacking the resonant, harmonic fullness and proper sound stage that allow music to "breath" more and sound more expansive and dramatic. But on the positive side, the instrument balance is great and the sound is full in volume and not "hissy" with a close-miked ambiance allowing clear differentiation of instruments if you like that kind of sound.

The Quartets who to me best capture these most complex and emotive quartets most fully are the (1) Alban Berg (quartets and especially the quintet), (2) the Quatuor Mosaiques (who play a most expressively and nuanced Rosamunde) and (3) the Quartetto Italiano (all quartets, especially the G major quartet which is truly staturesque in its harmonic depths). And for the great quintet, the Marlboro Festival recording (Sony) is highly recommended for its spirited live performance, along with the Alban Berg's "Great Recording of the Century" on EMI.

This DG 3-CD set is a fine recording and value - I just don't think it is the music in which this top quartet shines the brightest. I think the others listed above represent Schubert on a higher plane of excellence and more idiomatic to the composition. But, this DG coupling of the last four great quartets plus the monumental string quintet is fairly unique and priced to be the best value out there. Either way, what is most important is to explore these most wonderful chamber masterpieces.

Awesome music, interesting performance.......2004-07-22

These five compositions--Schubert?s last quartets and nearly his last work, the string quintet--have got to be one of the most underappreciated achievements in the history of artistic endeavor. Who else ever captured such an incredible spectrum of emotions in such exquisite poetry, without Romantic excess? Only Shakespeare comes to mind.

The Emerson performances of the quartets are extremely interesting?very high on the drama, maybe not so high on the poetry. There is immense energy and passion, the usual Emerson technical excellence, but not warmth exactly. Someone reviewing the Berg Quartet?s version of D.887 said he hasn?t gone back to Emerson after hearing ABQ (?honey has replaced the razor blades?). I feel like I couldn?t go back to ABQ after Emerson. The way the Emerson four do the first movement of D.887?I just get a lump in my throat and a little shiver down my spine every time I hear it. If the music can be played this way, why wimp out? I guess I?ll take the razor blades?.

The performance of the quintet with Rostropovich is of a different order: brilliant AND warm. I suggest checking out the reviews of the separately issued CD. This is music-making of a very high order indeed. If the set was the only way to get this performance of the quintet, I?d recommend buying the set. With the quality of the other performances, a fantastic deal.

Schubert + Emerson = Listener Satisfaction.......2002-02-23

First, these quartets are some of the best written to date so if you've not heard them, you should. Second, This is a great set to start with.
From the subtle first movement of Rosemunde, to the confused fury of Death and the Maiden, Emerson's interpretations are immense and multi-dimensional, constantly engaging the listener to jump further into the music. Not bad for a thirty some-odd dollar CD set.
The shining moment is the Quartettsatz. Already (in my opinion) THE BEST nine minutes of chamber music ever, Emerson adds to its appeal taking a bold flirty approach with it; Like a good crime novel, building an undeniable forward motion. It's so sad when after two minutes, the second movement cuts off. If the reader has no idea what I'm talking about, take my word. It will effect you.
The reason for the subtracted star is that, although Emersons in-your-face approach works well for the fast, bold movements, they can not fully shake it in the slower movements, where it sounds clumsey and innapropriate. The second movement in Rosamunde and D 703 could've done with more delicate treatment. For experienced Schubert listeners, Emerson adds a refreshing twist to these quartets. For the beginner, this is an exciting starting point.

Good but not Best.......2000-12-12

Unless you are in a hurry or care about the modern, digital sound, wait for Sony to release the Budapest Quartet version of these quartets on CD. That is the version to have; its absence from CD is one of the great gaps in the catalog.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
3 CD's for under $10

A Night at the Ballet (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Ent. Media Partners
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Famous Ballet Music ~ Gaîté Parisienne, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Les Sylphides / von Karajan, Berlin PO
25 Classical Dance Favorites
My Ballerina Album
Bayer: The Fairy Doll (Complete Ballet)
Music for Ballet Class

ASIN: B000002XEG
Release Date: 1997-10-24

Tracks:

The Nutcracker, Ballet Suite op. 71: Overture
The Nutcracker, Ballet Suite op. 71: March
The Nutcracker, Ballet Suite op. 71: Waltz Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
The Nutcracker, Ballet Suite op. 71: Trepak (Russian Dance)
The Nutcracker, Ballet Suite op. 71: Coffee (Arabian Dance)
The Nutcracker, Ballet Suite op. 71: Tea (Chinese Dance)
The Nutcracker, Ballet Suite op. 71: Dance Of The Toy Flutes
The Nutcracker, Ballet Suite op. 71: Waltz Of The Flowers
Swan Lake Suite, op. 20: Dance Of The Swans
Swan Lake Suite, op. 20: Waltz
Swan Lake Suite, op. 20: Pas de deux
Swan Lake Suite, op. 20: Pas d'action
Swan Lake Suite, op. 20: Hungarian Dance
Swan Lake Suite, op. 20: Spanish Dance
Swan Lake Suite, op. 20: Neopolitan Dance
Swan Lake Suite, op. 20: Mazurka

Tracks:

Giselle: Ballet Music - Tchaikovsky
Coppelia: Ballet Suite - Tchaikovsky
Sylvia: Ballet Suite - Tchaikovsky
Faust: Ballet Music - Tchaikovsky

Tracks:

Bolero
Rosamunde: Ballet Music
Reve Angelique
Wedding March Mazurka op. 20a
Champagne Polka, Op. 211
Egyptian March, Op. 335
Aida: Ballet Music
Fairy Of The Dolls: Ballet Suite

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-05-30

I was a dancer growing up and ave always appreciated and had a soft spot for classical music but ballet music in particular. The collection is fabulous. Highly recommended.

3 CD's for under $10.......2000-05-17

What a wonderful compilation of ballet music! At a price that is extremely hard to resist! I use these CD's for personal listening and for teaching dance...it has been a genuine treat!

Schubert: Symphonies 5, 6, 8 & 9; Rosamunde Overture

Average customer rating:

Is it real?
Karajan marches on
Sterling 9th
Unconvincing big-band performances without charm
Karajan's Schubert Cycle Reissued for Cheap!

Schubert: Symphonies 5, 6, 8 & 9; Rosamunde Overture

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Schubert: Symphonies 1-4; Rosamunde ballet music
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 93-98
Haydn: Symphonies #99-104; Sir Thomas Beecham; Royal Philharmonic
Schumann: The Four Symphonies
Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3 & 4 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

ASIN: B0002XV2YS
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

Rosamunde Overture, D644
I. Allegro
II. Andante Con Moto
III. Menuetto E Trio: Allegro Molto
IV. Allegro Vivace
I. Adagio - Allegretto
II. Andante
III. Scherzo: Presto - Trio: Piu Lento
IV. Allegro Moderato

Tracks:

I. Allegro Moderato
II. Andante Con Moto
I. Andante - Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II. Andante Con Moto
III. Scherzo E Trio: Allegro Vivace
IV. Finale: Allegro Vivace

Customer Reviews:

Is it real?.......2007-03-20

When I saw this CD here at Amazon and noticed such a low price the first thing that came to my mind is how "Such a superb Art", how "Such fine piece of Music ever" composed by one of the "Greatest Masters" ever has such a low price while you can see mediocre people buying things like madonna and beyonce paying more than twice this price by CD. I have all this works separately in imported vinyl but I'm going to buy this one in order of listening in my car during the path to work in the morning. I love the "Symphony number Five" but the best works here are the "Number Eight", "Unfinished Symphony" and the "Great Symphony Number Nine", talking about number eight unfinished symphony I prefer to the Sinopoli's interpretation conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra from Europe It is much more passionate, One intelligent man can't die without listening to this Masterpiece, why Franz Peter Schubert wrote only two perfect movements and stopped as if he had abondoned the symphony suddenly? I don't believe in this faith, I believe he finished this masterpiece but unfortunately the others two movements were lost forever, but these two that survived are perfect as we have known and listened to them for long time. About Symphony Number Nine this interpretation of genius Herbert Von Karajan is in my opinion "definitive" mainly in the first movement, it's incisive and coherent, and strong in a way that only Karajan could do with the help of the most important musical institution of the world "Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra". Great combination "Masterpiece plus best price possible". Perfect.

Karajan marches on.......2007-02-01

It is interesting to read the comments about Karajan. Those in the Beethoven section often loose sight that he did record stuff other than Beethoven's symphonies. Or they think he slighted the piano concertos when after all he did make several runs at those including mono recordings from the 50s. Or there will be comments about the sound he gets, too pure, too pretty. "I just can't like it, it sounds too good."

Karajan recorded just about everything from the Baroque Masters to Richard Strauss. He also headed up numerous music festivals and operas. To see what I mean, do a search either here or at Ebay on Karajan and opera. He was one busy productive dude. And he delighted millions both in live performances and all those vinyl gems he left us now bing ported over to cd.

I have these recordings that were issued on vinyl by Angel records in association with the book of the month club from way back when.

Karajan's recordings span from the 1930s to the late 1980s. Kinda like the Duke and all them westerns. He led the best orchestras in Europe (Vienna, Berlin, the Philharmonia to name three) and made records with them year end and year out for over 50 years. He also pushed the technology envelope and took advantage of digital when it first came out and video. Often the arguements about Karajan have to do with which version of such and such is best! "They all sound good, but I like his mono version with the Philharmonia best."

All this activity in conducting and recording over so many years paid major dividends. Like Bohm, I have seldom heard one of Karajan's lps and thought that he laid an egg! The reason why he is soooo popular is that he consistenly put out top notch work. You may find better individual performances but chances are you will not get an ear infection from listening to his recordings.

This inexpensive set is a good way to test the non Beethoven Karajan waters if you have not done so already. Or, you may give his great Schumann or Tchaikovsky Symphony recordings a try.

Sterling 9th.......2006-06-15

You know, maybe there is just something to a composers Symphony No. 9. Beethoven, Bruckner and Schubert all had amazing 9th Symphonies, but I digress. This CD is worth the money (which isn't very much) just to hear "The Great" C Major Symphony. I haven't found a better recording of it anywhere. Once again, Karajan turns out a gem.

Unconvincing big-band performances without charm.......2005-10-07

Amazon is being pdeantic to call the Schubert 8th, the Unfinished, his Sym. #7. All four symphonies here are great ones, and Karajan runs through them with a big orchestra and a good deal of impact. But one misses any easiness, charm, or melancholy, all qualities that belong to the real Schubert. This is more Karajan than Schubert, only worthwhile if you love the Berlin Phil's massive sound and want to hear every piece run through it.

I should say that the competing sets from Abbado with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (DG) and Colin Davis with the Dresden Staatskapelle (RCA) sound timid and dull respectively. I would hold out for the new Harnoncourt--his single performances have been excellent so far--or seek the many great performances that exist out there of each symphony.

Karajan's Schubert Cycle Reissued for Cheap!.......2005-03-14

EMI's new "Gemini" series is a breath of fresh air amidst all the smoke being put forth recently by the major classical labels. While Sony is deleting most of their classical budget discs, BMG is raising theirs to mid-price and UNI is convinced that 3CDs are always better than one, EMI decides to start a two-fer line that sells for significantly less than the competition, not to mention their own "Double Forte" series. It might not be as cheap as the old "Seraphim" series, but they could certainly be charging more for quality recordings such as these.

Herbert von Karajan's Schubert Symphony Cycle, made between 1975-78 for EMI with the Berlin Philharmonic, has been available previously on CD in the "Karajan Edition." However, those discs, released as four single titles with two Symphonies each, were twice the price of these new reissues. These performances of Symphonies 5, 6, 8 & 9 plus the Rosamunde Overture are certainly solid, but Karajan was never celebrated as a conductor of Schubert. One wonders if that is why DG had a young Lorin Maazel record the Schubert Symphonies with the Berliners instead of Herbie at the dawn of the stereo age, and that ultimately EMI had him record this Cycle because it was something he hadn't yet done for DG. In any event, I would certainly recommend the Bohm boxed set on DG or the Kertesz on London/Decca (see my review of the latter) ahead of these performances. But considering how cheap these two double discs are, maybe picking up an extra Schubert Cycle is worth it after all.

Vesselina Kasarova - Schubert, Brahms, Schumann Lieder

Average customer rating:

Unconventional and fresh
Unusual but stunning
Magical!
Thrillingly individual
Turn down the piano, please!

Vesselina Kasarova - Schubert, Brahms, Schumann Lieder
Franz Schubert , Johannes Brahms , Robert Schumann , Vesselina Kasarova , Friedrich Haider , and Dr. Stefan Mikorey
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Love Entranced: French Opera Arias
Vesselina Kasarova - Mozart Arias / Sir Colin Davis
Vesselina Kasarova - Rossini Arias and Duets / Flórez, Fagan
Schumann: Lieder-Album für die Jugend Op79; Songs Op40
Brahms: Lieder (Complete Edition), Vol. 1

ASIN: B00002JXEE
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

Fischerweise, D881B
Der Jungling An Der Quelle, D300
Der Wanderer An Den Mond, D870
Im Abendrot, D799
Nacht Und Traume, D827
Romanze, D797
Im Fruhling, D882
Standchen, D889
An Mein Herz, D860
Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen, D774
Der Fruhling, Op.6 No.2
Feldeinsamkeit, Op.86 No.2
Lerchengesang, Op.70 No.2
Meerfahrt, Op.96 No.4
Von Ewiger Liebe, Op.43 No.1
O Liebliche Wangen, Op.47 No.4
Erstes Grun, Op.35 No.4
Der Nussbaum, Op.25 No.3
Sonntags Am Rhein, Op.36 No.1
Rose, Meer Und Sonne, Op.37 No.9
Widmung, Op.25 No.1
Aufrage, Op.77 No.5

Amazon.com

Vesselina Kasarova has a truly glorious voice: its range and palette of colors are enormous; it can be both dark and radiant and seems to have a core of burnished copper. She has appeared in opera houses all over the world and released recordings of Mozart and Rossini arias as well as entire operas such as I Capuleti e i Montecchi, but has only recently branched out into lieder recitals. This is her debut lieder album, and the beauty of her voice is fully in evidence throughout. However, Kasarova seems to weigh every word and note and has given so much thought to the relationship between them that she has lost the most essential quality of the German romantic lied: its simplicity. She exaggerates phrasing, dynamics, and character, changes tempi instead of moods, and breaks up melodic lines with overinflection. The disc includes some of the greatest and best-loved songs, as well as a few unfamiliar ones, by three supreme masters of the form, chosen with obvious care; not surprisingly, Kasarova is most persuasive in the dramatic ones, in which her basically operatic approach works best. Friedrich Haider is a good pianist and a supportive--perhaps too supportive--partner. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Unconventional and fresh.......2002-09-01

I have always wondered why should German lieder be sung in accordance with some indefinable standart of "simplicity"? To me-it`s all about sincerety,air of intimacy and versatility.That is exactly what you`ll find on Kasarova`s record.She`s imaginative and emotional-something very important when you sing pieces that are so popular and want to make them sond new and fresh.The only thing I don`t like about this disc is that the singer is recorded too close.But anyway- it doesn`t spoil the overall quality of the performance.

Unusual but stunning.......2002-04-14

It's true, this is not the typical lieder approach. Indeed, it's often daring, pushing the limits of what a song can bear before it turns operatical. And yet, Vesselina kasarova manages to pull it off marvelously. She has such a variety in tonal colour that she brings something new and fresh to every song she sings. The Schubert selections are great, and the Schumann as well, but she is simply magnificent in the Brahms lieder. I wonder if there will ever be such a perfect, touching, almost heart-rending rendition of "Feldeinsamkeit". Listen to the emotional build-up in "Von ewiger Liebe". This is simply a beautiful disc, giving immense pleasure every time you put it on. Minor quibbles about imperfect German or a too close recording fall into nothing besides the sheer qualities of this disc. A desert island one, no question about it...

Magical!.......2002-02-21

What a marvellous disc! Truly amazing! A young singer whose Lieder recital has something to say and does it so beautifully!
I don't know where to start the praise - maybe with the voice itself, which is simply astonishing in its richness. Kasarova has great powers of communication and the courage to `speak her mind' in which she reminds me of Brigitte Fassbaender. Also her voice, though beautiful in a more conventional way, has some of the qualities of the great German artist's. Like Fassbaender, Kasarova is a great story-teller; she knows that Lieder singing is about telling a story and not `just' singing it. And how she tells them! Her approach is a perfect illustration of a very important quality in Lieder singing which seems to be forgotten nowadays - singing should be like pure speech. One of the greatest Lieder interpreters, Harry Plunket Greene, called speech in song "one of the most moving human gifts". Unlike many young (not only!) singers, Kasarova possesses this gift and together with Bartoli and Terfel shows that `speaking' through singing is the best way of communicating with the audiences.
Kasarova is neither the first nor the last singer to sing in a foreign language and her German sometimes sounds idiosyncratic (though I better leave this problem to the native speakers), but she is certainly one of the few among today's young Liederists who actually is not afraid of pronouncing words clearly. If that can occasionally lead to overemphasis, as some native speakers may quibble, it is certainly a minor offence. Clear pronunciation in singing becomes harder and harder to come by; it is like in movies, where the ill-conceived virtue of `expressing oneself' makes everything else irrelevant, never mind that the viewer has a hard time understanding what is being said, however beautiful it may be. It has become customary to criticize such great singers as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf for paying too much attention to `the meaning of the words' which creates the impression of a lack of spontaneity! Nothing could be more absurd! In this recital, you get the most spontaneous and sincere singing imaginable but you can be sure that lots of work and time went into creating both the programme and the final effect. And the final effect is one of those recitals that are simply difficult to talk about and even more difficult to argue with. How can one argue with such sincere conviction and technically supreme singing? If there is a high point in this sequence of gems, it certainly is Brahm's "Von ewiger Liebe". This `big song', as Gerald Moore called it, certainly gets a big `treatment' here and leaves the listener in a state of wonder. Almost every song brings something new - as somebody on this page said, Kasarova and Haider deliver these songs as if they have no knowledge of what has been done before. I couldn't put it better. But it is obvious that it is not self-indulgence that guides them. As I said, it is a very well-prepared programme that sounds fresh and sincere, with no signs of calculation or mannerisms, enemies of any Lieder singing.
Too operatic a voice? Not at all! What is a `Lieder voice' after all? It is a voice that can make poetry speak through the singer and that is exactly how Kasarova uses her instrument here. Her voice is indeed caught very closely but this closeness adds to the overall atmosphere of the recital (though I understand that some reviewers were rather bothered by it) - it is like participating in an exceptional Liederabend with a well designed programme that has only one flaw: it leaves you hungry for more. Imagine her Erlking, The Dwarf or The King of Thule - some of the most haunting stories told in Lieder. I wish Kasarova recorded more Lieder, but judging from her recordings and appearances all over the world, she is rather involved in standard operatic repertoire with an emphasis on belcanto. Since I am no fan of bel canto, I am left with the impression that she doesn't exist. Happily this disc together with her debut and Mozart arias albums are such joys that can make up for this apparent loss (she also released a disc with Berlioz's "Nuits d'ete" and Ravel's "Sheherezade" but I haven't heard it yet).
This CD is now one of my top favorites among the recent female Lieder recitals next to von Otter's Schumann and Schubert discs. It will always have a very special place in my record collection and I don't hesitate to put it among the recitals of the greatest Lieder singers! (Kicek)

Thrillingly individual.......2000-07-04

Having followed Kasarova's meteoric rise in the world of opera with keen interest I was torn asunder by this release: could this glorious mezzo really adapt her art to the intimate realm of Lieder, especially this particular repertoire which is, after all, already overpopulated by the full spectrum of the sublime to the horribly bad? The answer for me is a resounding "yes", although I can understand any misgivings others might have. I do not find her approach too operatic. It is one of the dichotomies of the disc: the voice is huge, but the approach is intimate to the point where, as the editorial review points out, she seems to almost over-interpret the words. A handy comparison would be to listen to Jessye Norman in similar repertoire - now that is an operatic approach! What differentiates this disc from so many others is that Kasarova and Haider deliver the songs as if they have no knowledge of what has been done before. Their delivery is sometimes quirky and almost uniformly unusual. Is this good? Once again: I think so. Standards like Schubert's "Im Fruhling" and "Auf dem Wasser zu singen" suddenly sound fresh and new. The mood darkens considerably for the Brahms section of the programme, the sublime "Von ewiger Liebe" being given a marvelously calculated performance. The Schumann section is again slightly lighter, but equally satisfying.

Kasarova's timbre is really a miracle. She can shade the basic coppery character into a veritable pallet of colours. Her diction is close to perfect, although her German is sometimes idiosyncratic, to say the least. Haider's accompaniment is very satisfying indeed. The artists seem to truly share a common vision and it works wonders. Years of working together in recital (often with Haider's wife Edita Gruberova) have obviously paid off.

I have only one quibble about this disc, which is why it receives four and not five stars from me: Kasarova is recorded too closely. Although it is good to hear the singer breathing the close recording unfortunately overaccentuates the way in which she chops up phrases for interpretive purposes as well as her tendency to lisp.

In summary: if you are the kind of Lieder connoisseur who believes that the Elly Ameling approach is the begin-all and end-all of Lieder singing, this one is not for you. If, on the other hand, you are more adventurous and tend to believe that traditions are there to flirt with, you might just love it, as I do.

Turn down the piano, please!.......2000-06-30

How does a disc this bad get released? It's impossible to evaluate the performance, because the piano all but drowns out the singer. The singer sounds like she's in the next room; the piano sounds like it's in your lap.

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