Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin

by Kristian Bezuidenhout

Overview

Tenor Julian Prégardien certainly has plenty of competition with this recording of Schubert's song cycle Die schöne Müllerin, D. 795. However, his entry into the field is distinctive in several ways and can stand with any of the other recent ones. Lieder buffs will remember that the singer's father, Christoph Prégardien, not only recorded this cycle but did so with a historically oriented pianist, Andreas Staier, at a time (1992) when historical performances of Schubert were not so common. Julian's second-generation recording certainly has a "family resemblance," but it is no knockoff, and it has several key attractions. One is accompanist Kristian Bezuidenhout's fortepiano, a copy of an 1825 Graf instrument from Vienna that is a clear, precise improvement on Staier's fortepiano and a good candidate for what Schubert might have imagined as an ideal piano sound. Another draw is the engineering from Harmonia Mundi at the SWR Funkstudio in Stuttgart, which fits beautifully with Prégardien's overall concept of the cycle. It is worth remembering that Schubert never hit the big time, and most of his works were written for small audiences of friends and connoisseurs. Prégardien reproduces that intimate atmosphere, getting quieter as the courtship of the beautiful miller's daughter goes seriously south, and the last few songs have a really touching and intense atmosphere. There is much more to hear in what is definitely one of the major lieder releases of 2024. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	08/23/2024
Label:	HARMONIA MUNDI
UPC:	3149020951507

Tracks

1. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Das Wandern
2. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Wohin?
3. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Halt!
4. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Danksagung an den Bach
5. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Am Feierabend
6. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Der Neugierige
7. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Ungeduld
8. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Morgengruß
9. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Des Müllers Blumen
10. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Tränenregen
11. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Mein!
12. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Pause
13. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Mit dem grünen Lautenbande
14. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Der Jäger
15. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Eifersucht und Stolz
16. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Die liebe Farbe
17. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Die böse Farbe
18. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Trockne Blumen
19. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Der Müller und der Bach
20. Die schöne Müllerin D.795~Des Baches Wiegenlied

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Julian Pregardien   Primary Artist,Tenor (Vocal)
Kristian Bezuidenhout   Primary Artist,Fortepiano

Technical Credits

Volker Neumann   Engineer
Kristian Bezuidenhout   Interviewee,Liner Notes
Myriam Mueller-Kube   Engineer
Brigitte Hebert   Poetry Translation
Derek Yeld   Poetry Translation
Doris Blaich   Realization
Wilhelm Mueller   Poetry
Julian Pregardien   Interviewee
Stephanie Wollny   Liner Note Translation
Franz Schubert   Composer
Dennis Collins   Liner Note Translation
Stefan Antonin   Artistic Director,Mixing,Editing,Mastering
Christoph Kern   Piano Technician,Instrument Design
Wojciech Grzedzinski   Cover Image
Laurent Cantagrel   Liner Note Translation
Catherine Pisaroni   Interviewer,Photography