Schubert: Austrian Contemporaries, Vol. 1 (2002)

Schubert's Songs -- Austrian Contemporaries

In his short life, Franz Schubert (1797-1828) wrote over 650 songs. Beyond a small number of frequently recorded songs, much of Schubert's output remains relatively little known. Fortunately, many fine recordings are available to bring Schubert's songs to a wide audience. On budget recordings, the Naxos label is in the midst of an ongoing project to record the complete Schubert lieder. The recordings are under the supervision of the German pianist, Ulrich Eisenlohr and feature young German-speaking singers and rising young pianists. (There is also a much higher-priced but outstanding series of the complete Schubert songs on the Hyperion label featuring much better-known singers.)

The CD under review is the 10th in the Naxos project and features tenor Christoph Genz and pianist Wolfram Rieger. I had no prior familiarity with either Genz or Rieger. Genz sings in a light, expressive voice which works best on the slower songs on this CD. (Before listening to this CD, I had been listening to Peter Schrier's recording of lieder on the Hyperion series which features some of the same types of songs. Both CDs include the song "Drang in die Ferne", D.770, which tells of a young man's desire to leave home and set out for himself. I found the Genz version rushed and somewhat forced in comparison to Schrier's. Still, Genz acquits himself well in the rest of the disk. I found myself drawn into the performances as they moved along.)

This CD includes 16 songs, evenly divided between the work of two poets who were friends of the composer: Karl von Leitner (1800-1890) and Johann Seidl (1804-1875). The songs date from the last few years of Schubert's life, and some of theme are related in style to songs from Winterreise. They show a wide variety of moods and themes, but all the songs move frequently and effortlessly between major and minor keys. This is a characteristic feature of Schubert's songs and gives them a moving, bittersweet quality. The songs are generally strophic in form.

Of the eight songs by Leitner, I most enjoyed "Die Sterne" (the stars) D. 939 with its flowing piano part, "Der Wallensteiner Landsknecht beim Trunk" (Wallenstein's Lancer raises his Glass), D. 931, a soldier's drinking song, and "Der Winterabend", (a winter's evening) D. 938, which almost could have come from Winterreise.

I enjoyed the Seidel songs more than the songs of Leitner. The eight songs include two popular songs, which were published as part of a collection of four "refrain songs", "Bei dir allein!" and "Iridisches Gluck", while the remaining six songs are flowing and deeply moving. "Der Wanderer an den Mond" (the wanderer and the moon) D. 870 has the character of a folk-song with piano interludes. "Das Zugenglocklein" (the passing bell) has a bell-like piano accompaniment full of foreboding. Schubert's use of triplets is on display in Sehensucht" (longing) D. 879, a song which turns into a commentary on the art of songwriting itself. "Im Frien" (in the open) D.880 is one of the more musically complex songs on this disk and features quiet, rippling octaves in the piano. The final song, Wiegenlied, ("cradle song") D.867 is probably the best-known work on this disk and features a lilting repeated and varied melody.

This CD includes good, detailed program notes as well as texts and translations. I find the best way to listen to these works is to hear them first with the text and translations in hand, and then simply to listen and be awed and moved by the beauty of Schubert's music. There are wonderful songs on this CD that will be unfamiliar to those without a special interest in Schubert's lieder. This disk will be of most interest to those listeners wishing to explore Schubert's songs in detail at a budget price.

Robin Friedman