[Cover graphic]

Compact Disc CDA67645

£13.99

Roger Vignoles writes in his booklet notes that ‘to enter the world of Mahler’s Wunderhorn songs is like opening a picture book. Each page gives us another character, another fairy tale, another episode, whether happy or tragic, in the tale of human existence … such is the consistency of its musical tone that Mahler achieves a remarkably intense evocation of human life in this collection, portrayed with empathy, humour and compassion’.

Some of these celebrated songs are much more familiar in their orchestral versions and pose a great challenge to the pianist. However the piano’s capacity for quasi-orchestral sonorities and textures was an essential element in the evolution of the Lied as an art form, allowing as it did for a far wider range of symbolic reference than would have been possible with any other accompanying instrument, and Roger Vignoles achieves a great level of intimacy within this framework.

Stephan Ganz performs with the musical intelligence and passion that characterized his first disc in this series:

Recorded on 15–18 February 2007
Recording Engineer and Producer
TEIJE VAN GEEST
Piano
STEINWAY & SONS
Front Picture Research
RICHARD HOWARD
Booklet Editor
TIM PARRY
Executive Producer
SIMON PERRY
© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MMVIII

Duration: 57'12
DDD
Front illustration: Apotheosis (detail) by Sergius Hruby (1869–1943)

GUSTAV MAHLER (1860-1911)

Songs from
Des Knaben Wunderhorn

STEPHAN GENZ baritone
ROGER VIGNOLES piano

Contents:

  1. Revelge [6'36]
  2. Lob des hohen Verstandes [2'50]
  3. Rheinlegendchen [3'02]
  4. Lied des Verfolgten im Turm [4'19]
  5. Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen [7'14]
  6. Der Schildwache Nachtlied [5'55]
  7. Das irdische Leben [3'08]
  8. Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt [4'28]
  9. Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht? [2'13]
  10. Trost im Unglück [2'40]
  11. Verlorne Müh [3'07]
  12. Der Tamboursg’sell [6'38]
  13. Urlicht [5'00]
Sleeve Notes

'The charm of Mahler's Lieder-composing style - so close to Schubert's - comes across beautifully. Stephan Genz is more than just a very fine singer: his precision, sensitivity and range of imagination proclaim him a true successor to the great Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. And Vignoles's booklet note is an informative pleasure in itself' (Classic FM Magazine)

'Stephan Genz's light, warm and cultured baritone is especially fine in reflecting the ghost voices and moonlight serenades of Mahler's folk-inspired anthology … This is the first time that I've heard a male voice take on 'Urlicht' … and its quiet serenity, as in 'Wo die schonen trompeten blasen', is what Genz does best' (BBC Music Magazine)

'Urlicht is beautifully sung … and Vignoles's playing is remarkably expressive throughout' (Sunday Times)

'It is a recording that seems, above all, to be characterised by enormous intelligence and sensitivity, from both singer and pianist … Most prefer to here these songs in Mahler's brilliant and scathing orchestral versions but the artistry on show here makes me glad to hear them in the intimate, piano-only versions … This disc, then, allows us to experience these wonderful songs close-up in all their variety, humour and pathos. Highly Recommended' (MusicalCriticism.com)

'Vignoles's pianism is so persuasive that one hardly misses the orchestral versions. In Revelge, for instance, his accompaniment to the song about the marching soldier has a suitably martial quality, while his playing of the lowest register of the piano to represent the drum rolls at the beginning of Der Tamboursg'sell is eerie and unforgettable. Genz, meanwhile, provides a well-characterised interpretation, his voice superbly controlled both in the vehemence of the prisoner's defiance in Lied des Verfolgten im Turm and in the beautiful pianissimos of Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen' (MusicOHM.com)

'This performance is a revelation, the simplicity of the piano setting and the serenity of Genz's performance casting a benediction on the entire program … Genz and Vignoles have produced a worthy successor' (Fanfare, USA)

'[There are a number of other collections available … ] But none of these has the clear and unambiguous sound that this Hyperion release has, especially the excellent piano balance, and Genz sings with a definite point of view and a nice sense of characterization. You have to have one of the orchestral versions, but you will also find much satisfaction in Mahler’s superbly realized piano version as well, and this recording will serve many needs'(Audiophile Audition, USA)

See also:
Mahler: Songs
Home | About Hyperion | Catalogue | News | Artists | Distributors