Compact Disc CDJ33037
The glories of this final disc in the Hyperion Schubert Edition are hard to over-praise. Three tenors sing 20 songs from 1828, the last year of Schubert's short life. The programme starts with Auf dem Strom (On the River) sung by German/Canadian Michael Schade, with horn obbligato superbly played by David Pyatt. This is followed by Herbst, the two unrecorded Refrainlieder and a fragment, Lebensmut. Then follows Schwanengesang sung by two tenors: John Mark Ainsley sings the Rellstab settings (including a wondrous Ständchen and a heartrending In der Ferne), and Anthony Rolfe Johnson sings the Heine ones (including a hair-raising Doppelgänger) and, at the end, Die Taubenpost, Schubert's last song. The two halves of Schwanengesang are separated by Glaube, Hoffnung und Liebe (Faith, Hope and Love) sung by all three tenors.
Recorded on 26 27 March and 8 9 June 1998, and 30 September 1999
Duration: 79'30 |
Contents:
Sleeve Notes Song Commentaries
GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE CRITIC'S CHOICE, FONOFORUM,GERMANY ECHO KLASSIC 2000 AWARD, GERMANY PREIS DER DEUTSCHEN SCHALLPLATTENKRITIK 'John Mark Ainsley sings the Rellstab songs with finesse, sensitive phrasing and great expression. In all, a magnificent achievement. Hats off to Schubert – and to Graham Johnson' (The Singer) 'This is an exquisite envoi to one of the great enterprises of recording history. Thank you, Graham Johnson, thank you, Hyperion and thank you, Franz Schubert' (International Record Review) 'This is an awesome achievement, a must for all Schubertians' (Sunday Times 'Record of the Week’) 'A thrilling finale. Few series of recordings so richly repay detailed study, and no disc from it more than this culminating issue'(The Guardian 'Classical CD of the Week’) 'A glorious conclusion to this magisterial edition' (BBC Music Magazine) 'Flawlessly performed'(Daily Express) 'A consistent joy'(Hi-Fi News, Record of the Month A:1*) 'Ainsley interprets his songs with the tonal beauty, fine-grained phrasing and care for words that are the hallmarks of his appreciable art … All in all, a worthy, inspired conclusion to the Edition…faultless throughout' (Gramophone) 'Riches galore – subtle, simple, dramatic, profound, and often all at once' (Classic FM Magazine 'Record of the Month’) Independent on Sunday 'Disc of the Week’ 'It’s execution remains as glorious as its conception, and sets a standard that will never, in all likelihood, be surpassed' (The Capital Times, USA) 'One of the most important and handsome undertakings in the century-old history of recorded music' (The Spectator) 'One of the monuments of recording history' (Wall Street Journal) 'One of the great achievements of recording history' (BBC Music Magazine) 'One of the most important achievements in the history of recording' (International Record Review) 'Clearly established as one of the finest achievements in the history of recording' (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia) 'A magnificent project' (BBC Music Magazine)
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