Franz Schubert: Lieder (1996)

Judith Raskin Sings Schubert

When Sony decided to eliminate its budget-priced "essential classics" series, many fine recordings, designed to serve as introductions to classical music, became unavailable. This is particularly unfortunate for this CD collection of Schubert songs because it features an American soprano, Judith Raskin, (1928-1984) who was well-known in her day but who is now in danger of being forgotten. Raskin was born in New York City and began to study voice in earnest while in college. She sang Mozart with the Metropolitan Opera and worked tirelessly on behalf of rising American singers. She served as an instructor for many years at the Manhattan School of Music and at the 92d Street YM-YMHA in New York City. I also have her recording of Mahler's Fourth Symphony with George Szell on Sony which, alas, is now also unavailable.

Raskin's accompanist, George Schick, (1908 -- 1985) also deserves to be remembered. Schick was born in Prague and became associate conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Rafael Kubelik. He is best-known for his tenure as President of the Manhattan School of Music from 1969-1976. This CD offers a rare opportunity to hear Schick as a sensitive pianist and accompanist.

Raskin and Schick perform 18 Schubert songs on this CD, which was initially recorded in 1966. These include three songs from the song-cycle "Die Schone Mullerin" and one song, "Frulingstraum" from Winterreise. There are songs by Goethe, Mayrhofer, and others. Raskin has a pure, light, and lyrical voice which is a joy to hear. She is particularly effective in flowing, strophic songs, such as "Auf dem Wasser zu singen" D. 774, "Die Vogel" D. 691, and "Wohin?" (from Die Schone Mullerin). She also captures the smoldering intensity of "Nachtviolen" D. 752 and "Auflosung" D. 807, set to texts by Schubert's friend Mayrhofer. This CD is an appropriate remembrance to the artistry of Judith Raskin and George Schick, and its deletion from the catalog is regrettable.

This CD also includes selections from three sopranos who are still alive but no longer actively performing. The New Zealand soprano, Kiri Te Kanawa accompanied by pianist Richard Amner performs three songs in a burnished, expressive voice, including Schubert's earliest masterpiece, "Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel", D. 118. The great Dutch singer, Elly Ameling sings two infrequently-performed duets with tenor Peter Pears and her frequent accompanist, Dalton Baldwin. The performance of ""Licht und Liebe" D 352 is moving indeed. Finally, soprano Judith Blegen is featured on one short song, "Ich schleich bang und still" D. 787, accompanied by Gervase de Peyer on Clarinet and Charles Wadsworth on piano. This lovely work is performed much less often than Schubert's famous lengthy piece for clarinet, piano, and voice, "The Shepherd on the Rock."

Kanawa, Ameling, and Blegen add much to this CD, but their recordings remain accessible. When this CD was available, its main attraction was as an introduction to Schubert lieder. With the removal of the CD from the catalog, there are many other recordings which serve that purpose. Thus, this CD will now primarily be of interest to collectors of Schubert lieder who want to remember the singing of a great American soprano, Judith Raskin, of not too long ago.

Robin Friedman