Schubert: Mayrhofer-Lieder, Vol. 2 (2003)

Schubert's Mayrhofer Lieder -- 2

Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828) was the greatest composer of art song -- or of any form of song. In his short life he wrote almost 700 songs, virtually creating the form. There are many discs available that offer the listener a sampling of Schubert's more famous lieder. But this disc is part of an compilation by Naxos which, when completed will include Schubert's entire song output on 33 CDs.
There is an earlier complete version of the Schubert songs on Hyperion, an excellent but high-price English label. Pianist Graham Johnson conceived the Hyperion project and accompanies on the piano on all the discs. Each disc features lieder by a famous and outstanding signer. The CDs are arranged by subject matter and include copious notes.

The Naxos set is budget priced. The performers are a variety of young native-speaking German singers and accompanied by several different pianists. The signers and pianists are outstanding. The Naxos CDs have full program notes and the text and translations of the songs. They are arranged by the poets who wrote the texts. This arrangement tends to place more emphasis on the texts of the songs than is frequently the case. The CDs sell at a budget price. They are an ideal way to explore the world of Schubert's songs.

The CD under review is the second in the Naxos compilation featuring the poetry of Johann Mayrhofer (1787-1836). Mayrhofer and Schubert were close friends and roommates for two years, even though the friendship cooled late in Schubert's life. Mayrhofer died by suicide in 1836. Schubert set 47 of his poems to song, more than any other poet except for Goethe and Schiller.
This disc includes fifteen Mayrhofer songs sung by mezzo-soprano Christiane Ivens with Burkhard Kehring on the piano. Ms Ivens has a golden, expressive mezzo that is equal to the emotions of Schubert's music. Kehring is a strong, muscular pianist. He makes Schubert's piano part at least as prominent as the vocal line.

The songs on this disc cover a spectrum of Schubert's compositional life beginning with "Am See" D124 (1814) and concluding with a great song "Dissolution" D. 897 of 1824. The collection becomes more and more impressive as it moves along. The earlier, youthful songs are lyrical and mostly strophic (regular form.) The song "Sehnensuch (Longing) D516 features impassioned singing together with a moving piano prelude, postlude, and trilling accompaniment.

The mid-point of the collection is a lengthy ballad "Uraniens Flucht" (Urania's Flight) D. 554 which runs over 18 minutes. There is lovely material here, but I much prefer Schubert's shorter songs.

The following songs including "Iphigenia" "Atys" and "Erlafsee" are based upon Greek myth. The music is both noble and passionate. These songs do indeed remind me of the operas of Gluck, as the program notes suggest.

The last two songs on this CD are Schubert's last settings of Mayrhofer, "Abendstern (Evening Star)" D. 806 and "Auflasung (Dissolution)" D. 807. These songs are the highlight of this collection and are frequently recorded. "Auflasung" is striking for the richness of Ms. Iven's performance and for the passionate way she handles the octaves at the climax of the song.

I find the best way to approach these songs is to read the text and then to simply listen and be moved by Schubert's beautiful music. This disc, and the others in the Naxos series, will allow the interested listener to approach Schubert's songs in depth.

Robin Friedman