Customer Reviews

Schubert: Lieder

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

 

 

These are wonderful performances and a good selection of songs. Those familiar with Schubert's chamber music will recognize "Der Tod und das Mädchen", which is the basis of the variations in the 2nd movement of the "Death and the Maiden" quartet (D. 810), and "Die Forelle" from the theme and variations in the fourth movement of the Trout Quintet (Forellenquintet).

The previous reviewer is well-intentioned, but evidently does not understand the text of these songs, which makes me wonder if any translations are provided with this CD. For example, he says "Die Forelle, which is the last song on here, is a happier story. It tells of a fisherman and a fish."

It's quite an unhappy story, in fact. However, there should be plenty of information available online about these songs and the poems Schubert set, as well as about Schubert.

The following is not completely accurate: "Tragically, he died of syphillis while he was still in his 30's but he had written over hundreds of great musical compositions and 600 songs. Among his finest are the Lieder, the Winteressen"...

It's true that Schubert contracted syphillis as a young man, but he died (at the age of 31) of typhus. The song cycle referred to is "Die Winterreise", or Winter Journey, not "Winteressen" (essen, to eat; das Essen, a meal, food, etc.)

You will get far more out of this music if you understand German, or have access to decent translations of the text.

The previous reviewer states about the songs, oddly, that "Many of them are poetry set to music". They are ALL poems set to music. Some of Schubert's settings are of poems written by personal friends, some are of poems by minor poets (such as the settings of poems by Friedrich Rückert in this collection). The source didn't have to be Goethe or Schiller for Schubert to do something brilliant with it.

Amazon consistently fails to get the German titles right, except by accident in the case of one- or two-word titles consisting of words without umlauts.

This is spectacular -- masterfully performed, beautiful, superlative. I can't say enough about it. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau was born to sing Schubert's Lieder. Granted, the disk's sound quality leaves a little to be desired, and Moore's piano could stand to be brought to the fore a little more, but if you love music, you will love this. Knowledge of German is not necessary, and indeed may detract from the power of the music and its expression (initially).

Thank you Franz Schubert, Gerald Moore, and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau -- the world is a better place for the cross-centuries collaboration represented here.

This excellent selection is, perhaps, the ideal introduction to Schubert's songs for those unfamiliar with them. I even suppose that, being part of the budget series from EMI, this was the idea. In that case, it is rather unfortunate that texts and translation are not included. It might, perhaps, help that few if any other Schubert singer pays equal care and attention to the words sung as does Fischer-Dieskau, and that the diction is usually clear enough for those who understand German to follow the texts, but it is still a little stingy on EMI's part. Still, this disc is thoroughly recommendable on all other accounts. Fischer-Dieskau sings with an unmatched intelligence and ability to put colors and shades to musical phrases with precision and nuance. Just listen, for example, to his ability to capture the four separate voices in Erlkönig, each with complete conviction, and to realize the dark tension and urgency of that epic drama. Of course, this disc is no substitute for Fischer-Dieskau's Schubert lieder edition (21 CDs), but as a sampler it is virtually perfect, despite the lack of texts and translations.

Although the cover of this disc was slightly cracked on arrival, it did not affect the disc itself. Anyone who loves Schubert lieder would want to hear this. Unfortunately, there was no accompanying printout of the words and translations which usually come with discs of lieder. Even being familiar with some of the songs, this lack is obvious because not all of the words are known by heart, and not all of the songs are familiar. If I had known in advance that this was missing, I would have chosen a disc other than EMI.

I certainly can't fault Fischer Diskau and Moore. I certainly do fault a Leider recording that is supplied without the words!
Lieder are song settings of poems. Without knowning the poems it is imposssible to fully appreciate the music.

A sad disappointment.

This album is an absolute must for fans of Lieder and moreover for fans of baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. On this EMI recording- a collection of Franz Schubert's Lieder for lyric baritone voice and piano. Dieskau provides the voice and Gerald Moore is on the piano. It's heavenly music. It would compliment your collection of opera, chamber music or other Schubert music perfectly. Franz Schubert lived and died during the same time as Beethoven and it was likely he was overshadowed by Beethoven's greatness. Nevertheless, after Schubert's death and throughout the 20th century, his music was finally acknowledged as having great merit. With Beethoven, Schubert pioneered the first budding of the Romantic movement that would endure throughout the 19th century up to 1900. Sometimes, Schubert's music comes dangerously close to sounding like Beethoven. The classical restraint is evident in some of the more romantic, lyrical slower movements but the dramatics and fortissimo of the Romantic Era was there in some of the more dynamic allegro passages. Schubert was a Romantic. Tragically, he died of syphillis while he was still in his 30's but he had written over hundreds of great musical compositions and 600 songs. Among his finest are the Lieder, the Winteressen, and his symphonies, among them the 8th "Unfinished Symphony" and the 9th the Great Symphony in C Major as well as incidental music and overtures and a wealth of piano trios and chamber music.

Dieskau is perfectly suited for singing the Lieder. His voice radiates with shine and poetic balance for these simple, elegant parlor songs. Many of them are poetry set to music, romantic thoughts about nature and love, etc, trademarks of the Romantic Age. He set music to the writings of Goethe. Among these is the moving and tragic Die Erlkonig. This is about the Elf King who is also Death and takes the life of an ill young boy who is carried in his father's arms as they ride on horseback to their home. But he dies in his father's arms after hallucinating about the Elf King. Dieskau makes this moment sound very real. Die Forelle, which is the last song on here, is a happier story. It tells of a fisherman and a fish. The music seems to imitate the flow of a stream and the swimming of a fish. It's the most German song I can think of. Beautiful and pleasant to hear.