Hindemith: Das Marienleben; Krenek & Strauss: Lieder

Paul Hindemith (Composer), Richard [1] Strauss (Composer), Ernst Krenek (Composer), Patricia Rideout (Performer), Glenn Gould (Performer), Roxolana Roslak (Performer), Lois Marshall (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Patricia Rideout, Glenn Gould, Roxolana Roslak, Lois Marshall
• Composer: Paul Hindemith, Richard [1] Strauss, Ernst Krenek
• Audio CD (June 27, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000028OA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,745 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Marvellous Recording!, November 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Hindemith: Das Marienleben; Krenek & Strauss: Lieder (Audio CD)

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This is one of Gould's wonderful later recordings from the 1970s, which features collaborations with vocalists. Gould always wanted to lead in the aesthetic realizations when he played with other musicians: hence, the main piece here--Hindemith's original version of Das Marienleben--(settings of Rilke's lyrics) comes out sounding like a sonata (or extended piece) for piano and voice. Hindemith's gorgeously long, arching melodic vocal lines are perfectly puncuated by Gould's secco playing. Rumor has it that Gould had an amorous liason with Roxolana Roslak; in the featured cover photo the two could easily be construed as lovers: there is a strangely intimate and erotic ambiance to the photo. They were perfectly matched artists in the realization of Hindemith's exquisite song cycle from the early '20s.

As a bonus, a track of one of Strauss' Four Last Songs is added.

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reissued as:

Hindemith: Das Marienleben

see also:

Hindemith: Piano Sonatas

Hindemith: Piano Sonatas

Hindemith: Brass Sonatas

Hindemith: Brass Sonatas

Schönberg: Lieder

Schönberg: Lieder

Schönberg: Lieder

Strauss: Lieder

Strauss: Melodrama by Tennyson

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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hindemith of wonder, November 9, 2006

By 

J. Anderson (Monterey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hindemith: Das Marienleben; Krenek & Strauss: Lieder (Audio CD)

A groundbreaking recording! Gould's way with Hindemith amounts to love. HIs recording of the sonatas is beautiful, and profound. He finds even more by way of Das Marienleben, finely sung by Roxolana Roslak. Gould's inerrancy lets him reveal the score as much as composer as pianist. This is music making as vital as breathing. Gould's ardent, wondrous musicianship creates some unearthly effects in the final three poems - Vom Tode Mariae (On the death of Mary). In the first of the three, he makes the piano literally echo figments of orchestral instruments -an oboe, even strings- so deft is his touch and pervasive his understanding. God-like playing, visionary musical ideas upon a richly endowed score (Gould called it the greatest song cycle ever composed, and perhaps proves it), and an artistic collaboration with Roslak that begins attracted to greatness and grows from there - this is an astonishing reading of a great piece. Gould gives his mind to music so directly, his playing is utterly unencumbered by any strain of ego. It's his greatest strength as an artist, and one worth cherishing because truth is restorative. It is life-giving. What more can be said in praise of an art? Whatever this man plays becomes as pure and selfless as he is, and this 2-disc recording stands among his finest achievements. Absolute recommendation.