Liden Kirsten

Hartmann (Artist), Dam-Jensen (Artist), Elming (Artist), Schonwandt (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Da Capo [Naxos]
• ASIN: B00000J8YG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,566 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Charming enough, but by no means a masterpiece, November 5, 2009

By 

G.D. (Norway) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Liden Kirsten (Audio CD)

Liden Kirsten was J.P.E. Hartmann's (1805-1900) third opera. The plot is a very predictable one (Kirsten is about to enter a covenant, confusions about her heritage, her lost brother who is believed dead turns up and turns out not to be her brother, hence they can marry) - it is rather surprising to see that this nonsense was written by H.C. Andersen (not only is the story thin and clichéd - the sung text itself is really poor). The music is rather charming, however - the long overture is for instance very worthwhile - containing many singable if not ultimately memorable tunes. It is decently put together and well orchestrated, but the invention does admittedly run somewhat thin and the end result is a tad wearisome with the charm sounding a little forced; this is no masterpiece - far from it - and cannot really stand up to operas in somewhat similar style by, say, Lortzing. The singing is generally good, with Inger Dam-Jensen being especially impressive in the title role. The orchestral playing is also generally good and Michael Schønwandt drives the whole thing forward with spirit and sweep. The sound is too close and reverberant, but not so much so as to ruin the experience. A charming, inconsequential work, then, worth hearing for those who generally enjoy music in the Mozart-Mendelssohn tradition with a touch of early German romanticism, but hardly a must for anyone, even the most ardent singspiel fan.