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Ime and again, composers - well-known and lesser-known - have arranged Franz Schubert's piano songs for orchestra. These versions are not in any way intended to cast doubt upon the powerful quality of the originals, they merely place them in a different light, and/or attempt to make them easier to perform on a larger scale - when an art song cannot be performed in an intimate salon or chamber music hall, it can also make an impact in a large concert hall. Baritone Benjamin Appl has compiled nineteen such arrangements from the 19th and 20th centuries for this new CD from BR-KLASSIK. T he Münchner Rundfunkorchester, conducted by Oscar Jockel, provides accompaniment that is subtle and in keeping with the work. InchTo my ear, it is often quite insulting, in a giant hall and after an orchestral number, to have to listen to a singer performing lieder to a spindly piano accompaniment!Inch Max Reger scolded, and he went on to take appropriate action by orchestrating several piano songs, including thirteen by Schubert. Many famous composers were not above taking on the role of arranger. Indeed, they even saw an artistic challenge in InchstagingInch the Lied in a new and colourful way using the possibilities of the orchestra - and without altering the musical substance in the process. The versions of Schubert's InchAn die MusikInch, InchI'm AbendrotInch, InchNacht und TräumeInch, InchPrometheusInch and InchErlkönigInch recorded here are by Max Reger; Anton Webern created those for InchDu bist die RuhInch, InchTränenregenInch or InchDer WegweiserInch; Johannes Brahms arranged InchGeheimesInch, Jacques Offenbach the InchStändchenInch, and Benjamin Britten InchDie ForelleInch. Further arrangements are by conductor Felix Mottl (InchDer Tod und das MädchenInch), lied accompanist Alexander Schmalcz (InchAbendsternInch, InchAn SilviaInch) and composer Kurt Gillmann (InchGanymedInch).
