Customer Reviews

Anne Sofie von Otter ~ Schubert: Lieder (Ave Maria, Im Abendrot, Ständchen, etc.)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lovers of Schubert lieder are as hard to please as grocery store cats. I can see someone agreeing with the Amazon reviewer's rave over Von Otter's Schubert, but I don't think Schubert is one of this singer's strong composers, compared to Brahms, Schumann, Mahler, and Richard Strauss. Von Otter has a tendency to apply the same phrasing time and again, swelling for expression and pressing hard on the fast beat in her voice.

It's a beautiful, flexible voice, of course, and she is a first-rate artist. But if you compare any of these famous songs to versions by Schwarzkopf, Janet Baker, or Kathleen Ferrier, their emotional dedication and poetic senssitivity is not quite matched. I don't feel that these songs matter enough to Von Otter. Her long-time accompanist, Bengt Forsberg, tends to be forward and aggressive too often. There's not a single song where I felt he was playing anything but an accompaniment, and that's not good enough in Schubert.

These reservations may stirke other listeners as asking for caviar. But why not? Schubert deserves sublime interpreters. Here we get an excellent one falling just short of the peak.

I am told this CD was included in an online magazine's top 10 lousiest CD covers. I would urge any aesthete to venture beyond the (admittedly) drab cover.

There is something about a truly great mezzo that is at the same time uplifting and extremely relaxing. As in previous recordings von Otter's vocal agility and evenness of tone make for a truly beautiful sound.

"Standchen" exemplifies this artist's ability to forge dynamic contrast, and "Im Fruhling" contains some delicious pianissimi. I think though, that the disk owes much to an excellent choice of material - this is a beautifully evenly-paced recital.

Shame about the cover...

After her wonderful Grieg and Schumann recitals, I must have unrealistic expectations. Here, her voice is not at her best, with some hardness and wear showing and sometimes her intepretation tends to be hurried. Why a four star raing then? Becuase she still knows what to do with her voice and to evoke emotions perfectly. Lieder is more than abou pretty voices, it's about revealing the soul of the poem. Still, you will find her voice in better conditions in the unbeatable Swedish songs collection.

Anne Sofie von Otter has got enough warmth in her voice to heat up your average german country house in December. Besides, one can actually understand the text! This and the absence of exaggerated pathos is enough to make this recording very special indeed.

Schubert's songs are always very beautiful ...
Schubert's songs chosen by Anne Sofie von Otter are much more than this.
If you don't know Anne Sofie von Otter, please don't have any hesitation.
Buy this masterpiece !

I am told this CD was included in an online magazine's top 10 lousiest CD covers. I would urge anyone who loves great leider singing to venture beyond the (admittedly) drab cover.

There is something about a truly great mezzo that is at the same time uplifting and calming. As in previous recordings von Otter's vocal agility and evenness of tone make for a truly beautiful sound. She communicates the text of these leider with calmness and intelligence. "Standchen" is but one exemple of this artist's ability to forge dynamic contrast, and "Im Fruhling" contains some delicious pianissimi.

The disk owes much to the sensitive, colourful accompaniment of Bengt Forsberg, and to an excellent choice of material - it is a beautifully evenly-paced recital.

Shame about the cover...

I really like von Otter, although her lieder interpretations don't impress me as much as her operatic appearances. It may be just a matter of taste, but her approach to lieder is, in my view, slightly hurried and thus somewhat superficial. Yet, I don't want to disparage this recording - it is still better than most classical CD's out there. I would also like to direct the lieder lovers' attention to three other wonderful recordings: Ian Bostridge in Schumann's Dicherliebe & Liederkreis (Gramophone 1998 best solo vocal award); and Paul Agnew in two volumes of Dowland's songs In Darkness Let Me Dwell and Flow My Teares (BBS Outstanding CD award).

I bought this AFTER I had the unparalleled Schumann "Frauenliebe und Leben" by her. It is not as enchanting as the Schumann. Perhaps it's the composers? But still lovely singing, and the accompaniment is, once again, spectacular, though Schubert just didn't write for piano the way the pianist Schumann did. Apparently the other reviewer hadn't heard the "Frauenliebe" because I have never heard anything done any better. The Bostridge is also excellent, as noted by him. But to hear her sing the first few lines on the Schumann is to be transported to another sphere.