Track Listing

1. LiederKreis, Op.24: I. Morgens steh' ich auf und frage
2. LiederKreis, Op.24: II. Es treibt mich hin
3. LiederKreis, Op.24: III. Ich wandelte unter den Baeumen
4. LiederKreis, Op.24: IV. Lieb' Leiben, leg's Haendchen
5. LiederKreis, Op.24: V. Schoene Wiege meiner Leiden
6. LiederKreis, Op.24: VI. Warte, warte, wilder Schiffmann
7. LiederKreis, Op.24: VII. Berg' und Burgen schaum herunter
8. LiederKreis, Op.24: VIII. Anfangs wollt' ich fast verzagen
9. LiederKreis, Op.24: IX. Mit Myrten und Rosen
10. Belsazar, Op.57
11. Abends am Strand, Op.45, No.3
12. Die beiden Grenadiere (Op 49, No 1)
13. Dein Angesicht (Op 127, No 2)
14. Lehn deine Wang' (Op 142, No 2)
15. Es leuchtet meine Liebe (Op 127 No 3)
16. Meine Wagen rollet langsam (Op 142 No 4)
17. Dichterliebe (Op 48): I. Im wunderschoenen Monat Mai
18. Dichterliebe (Op 48): II. Aus meinen Traenen spriessen
19. Dichterliebe (Op 48): III. Die Rose, die Lilie
20. Dichterliebe (Op 48): IV. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh'
21. Dichterliebe (Op 48): V. Ich will meine Seele tauchen
22. Dichterliebe (Op 48): VI. Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome
23. Dichterliebe (Op 48): VII. Ich grolle nicht
24. Dichterliebe (Op 48): VIII. Und wuessten's die Blumen
25. Dichterliebe (Op 48): IX. Das ist ein Floeten und Geigen
26. Dichterliebe (Op 48): X. Hor' ich das Liedchen klingen
27. Dichterliebe (Op 48): XI. Ein Juengling liebt ein Maedchen
28. Dichterliebe (Op 48): XII. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
29. Dichterliebe (Op 48): XIII. Ich hab' im Traum geweinet
30. Dichterliebe (Op 48): XIV. Allnaechtlich im Traume
31. Dichterliebe (Op 48): XV. Aus laten Maerchen winkt es
32. Dichterliebe (Op 48): XVI. Die alten boesen Lieder

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76763 in Music
• Released on: 1998-02-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 69 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The texts used in these 32 songs are all by Heinrich Heine, a miniaturist poet whose unique, characteristic mixture of wistfulness and irony, often tinged with self-pity, was ideal material for the genius of that wistful, ironic musical miniaturist, Robert Schumann. Every lover of Lieder must regret that Franz Schubert did not discover Heine until he was dying and composed only a few Heine songs in his Schwanengesang. But that regret is mitigated by the fact that Schumann gave so much attention to Heine during the brief, intense period when he was focused on song writing. Dichterliebe is one of the finest song cycles in the German language--surpassed, if at all, only by Schubert's Schöne Müllerin and Winterreise; and the other songs in this collection are comparable in quality. Bostridge's light, expressive voice captures every musical and emotional nuance and Drake plays masterfully the virtuoso piano part. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Oh so consumptive
Ian Bostridge is one of those poster boys only the English could ever produce. Latin America gives us Juan Diego Florez, Germany the smouldering Jonas Kaufmann, and we respond with a chap who looks like he should spend less time in draughty concert halls, and more time at home tucked up in bed. But, that is apparently what people want from an English tenor, judging at least by the number of discs bearing Bostridge's name.

So, is this worth your money? Well, the music on it should without doubt be in your collection: here are two of the greatest song-cycles of the 19th century, and a good tranche of other juicy numbers to boot, ranging from the delicious "Dein Angesicht" to the braggadocio of "Die beiden Grenadiere". What's more, the vast majority of the poems were written by Heinrich Heine, for the bitter, anguished quality of whose verse Schumann had a particular affinity.

And yet, it's really only worth three stars (despite Gramophone magazine rating this as their recommended recording of "Dichterliebe"), simply because Bostridge does not possess the qualities as an artist that are necessary for a great recording.

This is, I concede, a major criticism, but I'll justify my comments. Firstly, his voice, while initially attractive, quickly reveals itself to be a one-trick pony. Granted, there is a hysterical quality that is never far away which fits some of the music some of the time, but his range of colours is restricted simply by the thinness of his tone. What's more, the obvious flaws in his technique shine through (listen to verse 2 of "Berg' und Burgen" on first "tief", and his approaches to some of the high notes are either forced (as in "Es treibt mich hin"), or just unpleasant, as in "Lieb Liebchen".

There are a great many singers out there whose techniques are not flawless, but they make up for it in the quality of their artistry, but Bostridge is not among that number. I find myself listening not to Schumann, or the poet, or the lover of Opus 24, but to Bostridge swooping and crooning his way around the quiet passages, spitting out final consonants as if he had spinach between his teeth, and mangling vowel sounds left, right and centre. Moreover, because his voice is quite so fragile, Julius Drake (who is an outstanding pianist), has to play within himself throughout, even at the end of "Die beiden Grenadiere", where Drake noticeably reigns himself in when Bostridge sings.

If you want this repertoire, look elsewhere: Graham Johnson's series of Schumann songs offers some fantastic performances; Werner Gura's disc is much more powerful, not least because the man has a terrific voice; and Christian Gerhaher is making some glorious discs of Schumann's music. Of all them, I'd go for the Gura recording of "Dichterliebe", and get Johnson's disc of Opus 24 with the magnificent Christopher Maltman.

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Hoped for more
The biggest advantage of this recording is the excellent playing by Julius Drake.
Unfortunately the pair doesn't succeed in transferring the superb interpretation skills from their Schubert recordings. The interpretations of these songs are not inspired. They replace inspiration and deeper understanding with superficial gestures.
Bostridges voice is not filling the big outbursts of emotions. In "Ich grolle nicht" he is straight on boring.
In some of the sweeter Liederkreis songs he is brilliant although.