[Cover graphic]

Compact Disc CDJ33104

£13.99

Now that the Hyperion Schubert Edition is coming to an end (there two more discs to come), the Schumann Edition is getting into its stride. Volume 4 introduces two outstanding young singers to the series, in solo songs and in duet: German/Greek mezzo soprano Stella Doufexis and Swiss baritone Oliver Widmer. Also on the CD are several unaccompanied partsongs sung by The London Schubert Chorale under its director Stephen Layton, and it is our intention to record all of Schumann's work in this oeuvre, interspersed with the songs for one, two or more voices. Also included in the series will be all of the songs of Schumann's wife, Clara. (Five of them are included here.)

Surprisingly, many of these songs and partsongs have rarely been recorded and there are several titles on this disc of which we can trace no previous representation on disc - which is why we initiated the series.

Like the Schubert CDs, the Schumann discs come with exhaustive, scholarly and entertaining notes by the incomparable Graham Johnson.

Recorded on 26-28 November 1998
Recording Engineers
ANTONY HOWELL
JULIAN MILLARD
Recording Producer
MARK BROWN
Cover Design
TERRY SHANNON
Booklet Editor
TIM PARRY
Executive Producers
EDWARD PERRY
SIMON PERRY
© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MM

Duration: 77'00
DDD
Front photograph by MALCOLM CROWTHERS

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856)

The Songs of
Robert Schumann - 4

STELLA DOUFEXIS mezzo soprano
OLIVER WIDMER baritone

THE LONDON SCHUBERT CHORALE
STEPHEN LAYTON conductor

GRAHAM JOHNSON piano

Contents:

    LIEDER UND GESÄNGE Op 51
  1. Sehnsucht (Geibel) Widmer [2'35]
  2. Volksliedchen (Rückert) Doufexis [1'02]
  3. Ich wandre nicht (Christern) Widmer [2'20]
  4. Auf dem Rhein (Immermann) Widmer [1'38]
  5. Liebeslied (Goethe/Willemer) Doufexis [2'19]

    ROMANZEN UND BALLADEN Op 45

  6. Der Schatzgräber (Eichendorff) Widmer [2'42]
  7. Frühlingsfahrt (Eichendorff) Widmer [2'58]
  8. Abends am Strand (Heine) Widmer [3'03]

  9. Sommerlied (Rückert) Op 146 No 4 partsong* [3'19]
  10. Clara Schumann O weh des Scheidens, das er tat (Rückert) Doufexis [2'21]
  11. An die Sterne (Rückert) Op 141 No 1 partsong [5'31]

    ZWÖLF GEDICHTE AUS 'LIEBESFRÜHLING' Op 37 (Rückert)

  12. Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint Widmer [2'15]
  13. Clara Schumann Er ist gekommen in Sturm und Regen Doufexis [2'28]
  14. O ihr Herren Doufexis [0'58]
  15. Clara Schumann Liebst du um Schönheit Doufexis [2'10]
  16. Ich hab in mich gesogen Widmer [2'05]
  17. Liebste, was kann denn uns scheiden? duet [2'32]
  18. Schön ist das Fest des Lenzes duet [0'52]
  19. Flügel! Flügel! um zu fliegen Widmer [3'17]
  20. Rose, Meer und Sonne Widmer [4'51]
  21. O Sonn, O Meer, O Rose Widmer [3'36]
  22. Clara Schumann Warum willst du andre fragen? Doufexis [2'36]
  23. So wahr die Sonne scheinet duet [1'49]

  24. Die Hütte (Pfarrius) Op 119 No 1 Widmer [2'40]
  25. Der Brautigam und die Birke (Pfarrius) Op 119 No 3 Doufexis [2'28]
  26. Husarenabzug (Candidus) Op 125 No 2 Widmer [2'23]
  27. Frühlingslust (Aus dem Jungbrunnen) Op 125 No 5 Doufexis [1'08]
  28. Frühlingslied (Braun) Op 125 No 4 Doufexis [2'21]
  29. Jung Volkers Lied (Mörike) Op 125 No 3 Widmer [1'02]
  30. Gute Nacht (Rückert) Op 59 No 4 partsong [1'07]
  31. Clara Schumann Die gute Nacht, die ich dir sage (Rückert) Doufexis [2'15]

    * The partsongs are unaccompanied

Sleeve Notes

GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE

'At a time when the multinational labels fill their booklets with gushing hype about the artists, Hyperion's documentation puts all to shame: as in his Schubert Lieder Edition, Johnson supplies a 100-page essay, devoting at least a page to each song. He is erudite, readable and witty. [The songs] are sung sensitively by Doufexis and Widmer, stylish lieder interpreters with fresh young voices, in this fascinating programme' (The Sunday Times)

'Excellent performances and recording offer superb advocacy of late songs by Schumann and, even more affecting, by Clara ... This, the fourth offering of Hyperion Schumann, deserves to be celebrated on various counts: its expert programme-making, the extreme sensitivity of its performers (all three soloists and the London Schubert Chorale), and its advocacy of both late Schumann and of Clara, whose direct simplicity of utterance is so affecting' (Gramophone)

'Schumann lovers are more in debt than ever to Hyperion' (Classic FM Magazine)

See also:
Schumann: The Songs - 1
Schumann: The Songs - 10
Schumann: The Songs - 2
Schumann: The Songs - 3
Schumann: The Songs - 5
Schumann: The Songs - 6
Schumann: The Songs - 7
Schumann: The Songs - 8
Schumann: The Songs - 9
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