Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri ~ Harnoncourt [Hybrid SACD - DSD]

Christian Gerhaher (Performer), Robert Schumann (Composer), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor), Rebecca Martin (Performer), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Dorothea Röschmann (Performer), Malin Hartelius (Performer), Christoph Strehl (Performer), Werner Güra (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Christian Gerhaher, Rebecca Martin, Dorothea Röschmann, Malin Hartelius, Christoph Strehl, et al.
• Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
• Composer: Robert Schumann
• Audio CD (May 6, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B0013816OW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,661 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 1. Vor Edens Tor im Morgenpr

2. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 2. Wie glücklich sie wandeln

3. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 3. Rezitativ. Der hehre Enge

4. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 4. Wo find ich sie?

5. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 5. So sann sie nach / Quarte

6. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 6. Doch seine Ströme sind je

7. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 7. Und einsam steht ein Jüng

8. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 8. Weh, weh, er fehlte das Z

9. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 1. No. 9. Die Peri sah das Mal der

10. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 2. No. 10. Die Peri tritt mit schüc

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 18. Schmücket die Stufen zu

2. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 19. Dem Sang von ferne lausc

3. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 20. Verstoäen! Verschlossen

4. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 21. Jetzt sank des Abends go

5. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 22. Quartett. Und wie sie ni

6. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 23. Hinab zu Jenem Sonnentem

7. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 24. Quartett. O heil'ge Trän

8. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 25. Es fällt ein Tropfen auf

9. Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 50: Part 3. No. 26. Freud', ew'ge Freude, me

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sure to be the first-choice version for a long time, December 2, 2008

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri ~ Harnoncourt (Audio CD)

Schumann scored a huge public success in 1843 with this dramatic oratorio, adapted from an equally beloved poem, Thomas Moore's "Lallah Rookh." Although the themes are mystical and Middle Eastern, Schumann added not the slightest hint of Orientalism. Das Paradies und die Peri is one long sweep of beautiful Schumannesque melody lasting for 100 min. Which is both its blessing and its curse. There's no real structure in the telling of a fairy tale about a fallen celestial creature, half angel, half nhuman, who must perform a deed worthy enough to allow her to enter heaven. Victorians loved the work for its piety and gorgeousness; sadly, the Nazis adapted it to their own foul purposes -- extoling sacrifice for the Fatherland -- and more or less finished Peri off.

There have been intermittent stabs at a revival. To date, John Eliot Gardiner's 1999 live recording (DG) has led the field, and although his use of vibratoless period strings is irritating, he has the sparkling Barbara Bonney as his Peri. In every other way Harnoncourt's new recording far outshines Gardiner, so this is likely to hold first place for a long time to come. The orchestra plays beautifully, and among the vocal soloists Dorothea Roschmann is almost as captivating as Bonney. Only a few also-rans in the cast create stretches of dullness, but these are few.

Newcomers should be forewarned that beautiful music isn't the same as great music. This work is nevr less than beautiful, but it is so uniform in texture and shapeless as drama that taking it in over a few sittings isn't the worst idea in the world.

Here are the relevant details:

Das Paradies und die Peri * Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond; Dorothea Röschmann (Peri); Malin Hartelius (The Maiden); Rebecca Martin (mez); Bernarda Fink (The Angel); Werner Güra (Narrator); Christoph Strehl (The Young Man); Christian Gerhaher (Gazna); Bavarian RSO & Chorus

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting close to Paradise, October 30, 2008

By 

P. Schmidt (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri ~ Harnoncourt (Audio CD)

Schumann's "Das Paradies und die Peri" is an all but forgotten composition by the master, and it has been thankfully given new life by this distinguished group of performers. The story is told in the form of an oratorio, although the subject is not taken from the bible. Instead, the story is one of middle-eastern/oriental derivation, and involves the child of a human and an angel (the Peri) who desires more than anything to be allowed into heaven, and her attempts to regain favor with heaven by performing good deeds on Earth. The orchestra, soloists and chorus are first rate and the recording quality is fine.