The title for this release, Frage (Question), comes from one of the songs in the 12 Gedichte, Op. 35, but it might also be taken as a description of baritone Christian Gerhaher and his attitude in the recording. Gerhaher is a honey-voiced singer who can't help but bring to mind the great Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, but with this release, the first in a complete cycle of Schumann songs, he reveals an intellectual, questing side as well. At the local level his readings are quiet and detailed, revealing new aspects on each ...
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The title for this release, Frage (Question), comes from one of the songs in the 12 Gedichte, Op. 35, but it might also be taken as a description of baritone Christian Gerhaher and his attitude in the recording. Gerhaher is a honey-voiced singer who can't help but bring to mind the great Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, but with this release, the first in a complete cycle of Schumann songs, he reveals an intellectual, questing side as well. At the local level his readings are quiet and detailed, revealing new aspects on each hearing. And he draws connections across sets, tracing features of Schumann's song ideas through his entire career. Sample one of the final Four Gesänge, Op. 142, not late works but mostly pieces left out of the Op. 35 set for one reason or another; by that point in the album you'll feel yourself so deep in Schumann's thought process that the previous songs on the program will logically lead into these. Accompanist Gerold Huber is becoming the equal of Fischer-Dieskau's longtime partner...
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