The Songs of Robert Schumann - 10 / Kate Royal, Graham Johnson with Lott, Murray, Bantzer

The Songs of Robert Schumann - 10 / Kate Royal, Graham Johnson with Lott, Murray, Bantzer

The Songs of Robert Schumann - 10 / Kate Royal, Graham Johnson with Lott, Murray, Bantzer
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Music CD Cover

Composer: Robert Schumann
Performer: Kate Royal
Performer: Graham Johnson
Performer: Felicity Lott
Performer: Lydia Teuscher
Performer: Ann Murray
Performer: Stephen Loges
Performer: Christoph Bantzer
Performer: Daniela Lehner
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2007-11-13
Music Label: Hyperion (UK)
Soundtracks:
  1. In Der Fremde
  2. Intermezzo
  3. Waldesgesprach
  4. Die Stille
  5. Mondnacht
  6. Schone Fremde
  7. Auf Einer Burg
  8. In Der Fremde
  9. Wehmut
  10. Zwielicht
  11. Im Walde
  12. Fruhlingsnacht
  13. Schon Hedwig
  14. Ballade Vom Haideknaben
  15. Die Fluchtlinge
  16. Landliches Lied
  17. Lied ('In Meinem Garten Die Nelken')
  18. Zigeunerleben
  19. Die Nonne
  20. Was Soll Ich Sagen?
  21. Fruhlingsgrusse
  22. Wenn Ich Ein Voglein War
  23. Herbstlied
  24. Schon Blumelein
  25. Mein Garten
  26. Sommerruh
  27. Mailied
  28. Fruhlingslied
  29. And Die Nachtigall
  30. An Den Abendstern
  31. Bei Schenkung Eines Flugels

Free Music Notes for The Songs of Robert Schumann - 10 / Kate Royal, Graham Johnson with Lott, Murray, Bantzer

Free Music Review: A Mixed Bag, and an Uneasy Partnership between Kate Royal and Graham Johnson
Hit: 3 Stars

I really struggled on how to rate this album -- I was loathe to penalize this effort merely on account of the hype surrounding Kate Royal. But, given her limited participation here, even the most avid of her fans would be unlikely to rate it above 3.5 stars, so I am content with the fairness of my 3.

First off, this is *not* a Kate Royal album. She performs on only 12 of the 31 tracks. Granted, she is accorded the one masterpiece in this assemblage: the Op. 39 (Eichendorff) Liederkries. This is not a narrative song cycle but, as the title implies, a garland of song inhabited by an air of mystery and shadowy stillness. Notable exponents in the past have included Ameling, Baker, Crespin, Lipovsek, Norman, Shirai, Bär, and many others. Kate Royal's voice doesn't seem that interesting to me -- as recorded here at least it sounds thin and of limited range, screechy at the top and uncomfortable at the bottom. What she does possess is refined and uncommonly mature expressive abilities.

To my sensitivities, the Liederkreis performance enshrined here has some of Graham Johnson's most poorly judged accompaniment. His support of Royal here is wan and sluggish, lacking in lustre and interpretive power. I understand where he may have been going with this approach: the mystery of the poetry and music invites stillness, understatement, even reticence. But he goes too far; his playing leaves large pockets of dead air. Admittedly, Royal's talents go far in filling the interpretive void. It's hard to tell what's going on here -- which performer is compensating for the other's weaknesses? -- but it is not a satisfying partnership. Still, the interpretation remains interesting without brushing greatness. My impression is that its shortcomings lie more with the accompanist than with the singer.

The mood set by the Liederkreis is sustained by the three melodramas (spoken poetry to piano accompaniment) that follow. Then come three characterful pieces allotted to a refined ensemble of young singers (including some peculiar percussional obbligato on the third piece, a gypsy song for chorus). Three "orphaned" pieces follow, their unprepossessing status certainly confirmed by the anonymous solo voices assigned to them from the ensemble. Next we have two sets of duets performed by the veteran duo of Felicity Lott and Ann Murray. Concluding the recital is another ensemble piece set to one of Schumann's own poems, written to accompany the gift of a piano to Clara after he had been committed to an asylum.

Given the odd mixture of sources and performers, the program does hang together fairly well; even if, after the Liederkreis, the rest of the album feels fairly insubstantial.

Johnson's lack of involvement in the Liederkreis luckily doesn't extend to the rest of the album. The duets and ensembles are typical Biedermeier effusion, fragrant with romanticism but not particularly memorable (aside from the three pieces performed by the young ensemble in mid-program). All the same, it is enjoyable to welcome back Lott and Murray.

Even though Royal's performance is the disk's highlight, I would discourage buyers who are on board solely to check her out. It's certainly an interesting performance but an uneasy alliance of singer, accompanist, and composer. Lieder enthusiasts will find Royal little more than a curiosity at this stage. Voice fanciers will not be won over to Lieder, that homely stepsister of opera, for its homeliness is rather confirmed by this release. And Royal fans will find too little here to justify the purchase. This narrows the pool of potential buyers to those attracted by the sheer oddity of the assorted pieces, and those (like me, apparently) hell-bent on "collecting the whole set."
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