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Franz SCHUBERT (1792 - 1828) Sehnsucht (Nur wer di Sehnsucht kennt), D310, 1st Version Rastlöse Liebe, D138 Nähe des Geliebten, D162 Die Liebe (Klärchens Lied/Freudvoll und leidvoll), D210 Sehnsucht (Nur wer di Sehnsucht kennt), D310, 2nd Version Gretchen am Spinnrade, D118 Szene aus Faust, D126 Gretchen im Zwinger, D126 Sehnsucht (Nur wer di Sehnsucht kennt), D359 Suleika I (Was bedeuted die Bewegung), D720 Suleika II (Ach um deine feuchtedn Schwingen), D 717 Sehnsucht (Nur wer di Sehnsucht kennt), D481 An Mignon, D161 Mignon und der Harfner (Nur wer di Sehnsucht kennt), D877 Mignon I (Heiss mich nicht reden), D726 Mignon II (So lasst mich scheinen), D727 Wonne der Wehmut, D260 Schweizerlied, D559 Die Spinnerin, D247 Die Leibende schreibt, D673 Lied der Mignon (Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt), D877 Lied der Mignon (Heiss mich nicht reden), D877 Lied der Mignon (So lasst mich scheinen), D877 Mignon (kennst du das Lan?), D321 Ruth Ziesak (soprano) Christian Elsner (tenor) Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano) Recorded at Radiosudio, Zurich, 15th, 16th July 2002, 31st October, 1st November 2002 Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition 13 - Goethe Lieder, Vol 2. NAXOS 8.554666 [69.16]

Naxos’s Schubert-Lied Edition is organised by poet and this volume is the second of Schubert’s Goethe Lieder. The first volume was sung by the baritone Ulf Bästlein. Here we have the soprano Ruth Ziesak, accompanied by Ulrich Eisenlohr. Eisenlohr is the artistic director of the series but he does not appear on every disc. Not surprisingly, in a recital of Schubert’s Goethe settings sung by female voice, Mignon and Gretchen feature quite strongly. Of the 24 songs on the disc, half of them relate to Mignon. This is partly because Schubert seems to have compulsively re-worked these songs, setting the same poems repeatedly. There are 5 settings of ‘Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt’ including one done as a duet. This introduces the tenor, Christian Elsner who appears in this and another duet as well as being allocated ‘An Mignon’ for his pains. In ‘An Mignon’, Goethe the poet was commenting on Mignon so it makes sense to include the song on this disc but have it sung by a male voice. Gretchen features in three of the songs. Besides the well known ‘Gretchen am Spinnrade’, the recital features two excerpts from Schubert’s abortive Faust opera. Gretchen im Zwinger is a haunting incomplete piece. The third excerpt is the ‘Szene aus Faust’, which takes place during the singing of the requiem. A harmonically complex recitative between Gretchen and the Evil Spirit is periodically interrupted by the choir singing verses from the Dies Irae. Here Christian Elsner sings both the Evil Spirit and the choir, skilfully managing to differentiate between them both. One final dramatic work by Goethe is featured; the song ‘Die Liebe’ is taken from his drama ‘Egmont’. This is an attractive and well structured recital. Ruth Ziesak has a pleasing, rather plangent voice whose melancholy cast suits the nature of many of these songs. You will not go far wrong if you buy this disc, but it highlights one of the weaknesses of Naxos’s series. By allocating all of the discs to young German singers we do get singers singing in their native tongue; this is a positive advantage. But the singers can lack the experience required to bring out the best in these songs. Ziesak sings with commendable diction, but she does not always make a good connection between words and music. Her interpretations are rather generalised and she does not adequately vary her tone. The art of lied singing involves storytelling and Ziesak does not do this often enough and her singing lacks intensity. By not varying her tone and not drawing the listener in, Ziesak runs the danger of monotony. She is at her best in the more strophic songs and at her weakest in such items as the more complex Suleika songs, which set texts by the 30 year old Marianne von Willemer with whom the 65 year old Goethe had a passionate affair. Eisenlohr is an exemplary accompanist and his playing is one of the joys of the record. Christian Elsner acquits himself well and I would like to hear more of him. One of the joys of this sort of disc is the discovery of items which you have forgotten or never knew. This was true for me of the two duets, ‘Mignon and the Harper’ and the ‘Scene from Faust’. Elsner helps give these two pieces a strong impact. This is an attractive disc and at super budget price it is highly recommendable. But most people seriously interested in this repertoire will need to invest in another disc as well. EMI’s Janet Baker set, which covers quite a lot of this repertoire, is very well worth investigating. Robert Hugill see also review by Colin Clarke For reviews of other releases in this series, see the Naxos Deutsche Schubert-Lied Edition page     Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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