Schubert: Goethe Lieder, Vol. 1 (1999)

Schubert Goethe Lieder -- Vol 1

The poems of the great German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 --1832)were set to music by Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, and Hugo Wolf, together with many lesser composers. But no composer set more of Goethe than did Franz Schubert (1797 --1827), who composed over 700 songs during his short life. Schubert's settings of Goethe have been gathered together for the listener to explore on Naxos, a budget-priced CD label as part of its ambitious project of recording all the Schubert songs. This series is an excellent way to get to know Schubert, young native German-speaking singers, and young pianists.

This CD, the first in the compilation of Goethe Lieder (there are three CDs available) features baritone Ulf Bastlein and pianist Stefan Laux, and they peform these songs very well. Bastlein has a mellow lyrical voice, which is capable of dramatic intensity in songs such as "Prometheus" D.674 and "To Coachman Chronos", D,369.

The CD consists of 24 songs, many of which are frequently anthologized. These well-known songs include Schubert's early endearing "Heidenroselein", D. 257 ("Little Wild Rose"), liltingly performed together with his two contrasting settings of Goethe's poem "Aus den Mond" ("To the Moon"), D. 259 and D. 296. The CD also includes Schubert's great settings of Goethe's two "Wanderer's Nachtlied" ("Wayfarer's Night Song"), D. 224 and D.768, in all their short, quiet intensity. The seven songs Schubert wrote for the poems of the "Harper" in Goethe's novel "William Meister" are on this CD and will allow the listener to hear how Schubert's conception of these poems developed with his repeated efforts to set them.

Some of the songs that listeners familiar with Schubert might not know include his ballad settings, "Der Gott und Die Bajadere"

("The God and the Bayadere"), D.254, "Der Schutzgruber" ("The Treasure Seeker") D. 256, and "Der Konig in Thule" D. 367, all of which are worth hearing. The disk includes a lyrical, rippling performance of Schubert's early "Der Fisher", D. 225, as well as of "Der Rattenflinger", D. 255 which tells the story of the Pied Piper. A longer song, "Grenzen der Menshleit" ("The Limits of Mankind") D. 716, shows Schubert writing in a declamatory, dramatic style that might surprise those who see only the lyrical side of Schubert.

The two songs I most enjoyed on this CD were "Ganymed", D.544 and "Prometheus", D. 474. These are elaborate settings of Greek myths, which Schubert composed with great care. "Ganymed" is a radiant song which sings in glowing terms of the young man carried off by Zeus. There is a beautiful, radiant piano part in this song. "Prometheus" is a song of defiance, in which the singer challenges and mocks the gods and voices his faith in humanity. It is through-composed with many turns and is well-performed here. Music-lovers with a serious interest in lieder will enjoy comparing Schubert's settings of these poems with the later settings by Hugo Wolf.

The CD includes texts and translations of all the poems and instructive program notes. For lovers of song who want to explore Schubert beyond the handful of songs found on anthologies, and for those listeners who want a grouping of the songs based upon the poets whom Schubert set, this CD, and the Naxos compilation in general, will be a blessing. It is a way to get to know the beauties of the Schubert songs in depth at little cost.

Robin Friedman