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Recital

26 June 2009

Schubertiade, Schwarzenberg, Austria 

 

Gerald Finley

Julius Drake

This performance will be broadcast by Austrian radio station OE 1 on the 2 July 2009, 7.30 pm

Programme

Robert Schumann:

Tragödie I und II

Der arme Peter

Lehn’ deine Wang’,

Es leuchtet meine Liebe

Dein Angesicht

Mein Wagen rollet langsam

Belsazar

Die feindlichen Brüder

Abends am Strand

Die beiden Grenadiere

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai

Aus meinen Tränen spriessen

Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne

Wenn ich in deine Augen seh'

Ich will meine Seele tauchen

Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome

Ich grolle nicht

Und wüssten's die Blumen, die kleinen 

Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen 

Hör' ich das Liedchen klingen 

Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen 

Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen

Ich hab' im Traum geweinet 

Allnächtlich im Traume 

Aus alten Märchen 

Die alten, bösen Lieder

Encores

Charles Ives:Ich grolle nicht

Robert Schumann:Lotosblume

 

 

What the critics say

Hermann Schlösser, Wiener Zeitung, 4 July 2009

Translated by Petra Habeth

[review of the radio broadcast]

http://www.wienerzeitung.at/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=4975&alias=wzo&cob=423554

Ironically absorbed melancholy

Concert broadcasts have forever belonged to the inherent part of the radio program - but there is no reason to reform this “format”. It is quite beautiful when you get a concert delivered into your home. On Thursday for instance, a wonderful recital was broadcast on Ö1 which was recorded this year at the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg. The Baritone Gerald Finley sang – accompanied by Julius Drake - Heine compositions of Robert Schumann.

The Interpretations of both excellent musicians makes clear that Schumann was the most congenial composer for Heinrich Heine’s elegant, ironically absorbed melancholy. That was not only observed in the cycle “Dichterliebe”, Schumann’s master piece, but also the less well known Lieder which were to be heard in the first part of the concert. In short, on Thursday you were able to spend a very stimulating evening radio-listening.

 

 

Anna Mika, 26 June 2009

Translated by Petra Habeth

 

Gerald Finley and Julius Drake inspired

Several examples exist to show that opera stars are not necessarily also good Lieder singers. The Schubertiade debutant Gerald Finley is at home on the stages of the world, i.e. sing Don Giovanni under the baton of Kirill Petrenko in Paris, and he gave a top class recital yesterday afternoon in Schwarzenberg.

 

Musical dialogue

Julius Drake, who can be named in the same breath, was at the piano and went into a musical dialogue with the singer which was always delightful and often breathtaking. The programme with Lieder by Robert Schumann exclusively from the texts of Heinrich Heine was indeed intended to put this musical partnership in perspective since Schumann has provided his songs with rich and independent piano parts.

 

Hence the Dichterliebe became a singular event thanks to the art of characterization of both artists. How they pass the impulses to each other, how Finley often in the smallest space mixed the colours of his sometimes powerful, sometime wonderfully gentle baritone, was unique. Also in the first part everything went wonderfully, but at several times Finley’s piano-voice was too polite so that it was barely audible.

 

A highlight

But he soared up to lonely altitudes with his interpretation of “Belsatzar” and “die beiden Grenadiere” which sent shivers running down your spine. In company with Julius Drake he curbed and accelerated the tempi with astonishing freedom and stylistic confidence, and his acting talent became visible without going beyond the scope of Lied singing.

 

It is beyond understanding that several seats remained unoccupied at this wonderful concert. Are the Schubertiade visitors not curious about a new interpreter? When at today’s evening concert, Matthias Goerne, who has sung all three Schubert cycles, finishes the June-series with the “Schwanengesang”, all will be happy about a Schubertiade with its especially beautiful concerts and without last minute cancellations.