Schubert Revisited: Lieder arranged for Baritone and Orchestra

by Matthias Goerne, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Florian Donderer

Overview

The 19th century was full of transcriptions of orchestral works for smaller media, with audiences likely hearing chamber arrangements of symphonies more often than the originals. Transcriptions of voice-and-piano songs for orchestra, however, might well have seemed odd to listeners of that time, for there was no reason to replace the original forces with a more expensive and difficult-to-assemble setting. Here, baritone Matthias Goerne, arguably the king of the current Schubert scene, offers 19 Schubert songs, mostly quite familiar ones, in orchestral arrangements by pianist Alexander Schmalcz, and listeners' reactions may well depend on whether they find value in the exercise or evaluate it as a way for Goerne to line up lucrative orchestral-concert paychecks. Schmalcz is circumspect in his approach, not going beyond the notes that are in the songs and departing from simple string and wind textures only in songs that seem to call for a more dramatic approach. Sample Erlkoenig, D. 328, to hear one of those departures. Is the song improved by having the strings saw away in the ominous repeated notes of the piano accompaniment? That is for listeners to decide for themselves, but there is no question about Goerne's voice; it is in fine form, its burnished tone in Schubert fully intact, and he manages this vocal control while contributing to the direction of the Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. It is a virtuoso performance, and it may well bring more Goerne orchestral Schubert performances in the future. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2023
Label:	Deutsche Grammophon
UPC:	0028948397587
Rank:	123823

Tracks

1. An Sylvia, Op. 106/4, D. 891
2. Sch¿¿fers Klagelied, D. 121
3. Ganymed, D. 544
4. Fahrt zum Hades, D. 526
5. Schatzgr¿¿bers Begehr, D. 761
6. Der Tod und das M¿¿dchen, D. 531
7. Erlk¿¿nig, D. 328
8. Wandrers Nachtlied, D. 224
9. Granzen der Menschheit, D. 716
10. 3 Ges¿¿nge des Harfners, D. 478, No. 1 Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt
11. 3 Ges¿¿nge des Harfners, D. 480, No. 3 Wer nie sein Brot mit Tr¿¿nen a¿¿
12. 3 Ges¿¿nge des Harfners, D. 479, No. 2 An die T¿¿ren will ich scheichen
13. Das Heimweh, D. 851
14. Pilgerweise, D. 789
15. Abendstern, D. 806
16. Alinde, D. 904
17. Stimme der Liebe, D. 412
18. Des Fischers Liebesgl¿¿ck, D. 933
19. An die Entfernte, D. 765

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Matthias Goerne   Primary Artist,Baritone (Vocal)
Florian Donderer   Primary Artist,Conductor
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen   Primary Artist,Orchestra

Technical Credits

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe   Text
Johann Friedrich Rochlitz   Text
Matthias Claudius   Text
Rene Moeller   Mixing,Editing,Recording Producer
Wolfgang Schiefermair   Balance Engineer
Johann Ladislav Pyrker   Text
Fred Munzmaier   Design
Franz von Schober   Text
Eva Reisinger   Booklet Editor
Stewart Spencer   Text Translation
Johann Mayrhofer   Text
Karl Gottfried Ritter von Leitner   Text
Friedrich Leopold Graf zu Stolberg-Stolberg   Text
Julia Baier   Photography
Eduard von Bauernfeld   Text Translation
Alexander Schmalcz   Arranger
Valerie Gross   Executive Producer
William Mann   Text Translation
Bjorn Woll   Liner Notes
Caroline De Bon   Cover Photo,Photography
Philipp Zeidler   Product Manager
William Shakespeare   Text
Revna Karacabeyli   Project Coordinator
Franz Schubert   Composer
Oliver Kreyssig   Production Manager