Schumann / Johansen / Larina - Dichterliebe / Arias for Tenor / Transverse Flute - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Recasens - Pedro Ruimonte in Brussels [COMPACT DISCS] date 11/10/2017

Julian Prégardien decided to record the Dichterliebe cycle after he came across the new Bärenreiter edition; he went on to explore the work in concerts with his constant accompanist, Eric Le Sage, inserting other works by Robert and also by Clara Schumann, whose bicentenary is celebrated in 2019. When Clara played the Dichterliebe in the 1860s, she used to slip extracts from Kreisleriana between the songs. Prégardien asked Eric Le Sage to record the same extracts on a Blüthner piano of 1856, the year of Robert's death, and also include Romances composed by both Robert and Clara at a time when their future marriage was still uncertain. The sublime ballade Löwenbraut also forms part of the programme - a reminder of the young Robert's anguish on Clara's departure. At Julien's suggestion, Sandrine Piau was invited to sing three duets a simple Canon composed by Clara, and two duets by Robert, Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär, and the sublime In der Nacht. Four further songs complete the album Sängers Trost, a short piece in belcanto style; Kurzes Erwachen, composed by Robert at the age of just eighteen; Aus den hebräischen Gesängen, a very melancholy song; an extract from the cycle Myrthen (Robert's wedding present to Clara); and Mein Wagen rollet langsam, a song that was included in the composer's first version of Dichterliebe.

The year 1840 with reference to Robert Schumann's compositional legacy is colloquially referred to as the song year. It was then that Schumann composed a significant part of his compositions for voice and piano. The year 1840 is a breakthrough for the composer also for another reason. After many years, bringing only piano works, Schumann finally broke the peculiar routine and showed interest in a wider spectrum of genres. The present album from tenor Leszek Swidzinski, associated not only with the Warsaw opera stages, but also an excellent teacher, with the participation of pianist Zofia Antes, includes two popular cycles of Schuman songs Liederkreis, Op. 39 and Dichterliebe, Op. 48.