The Hyperion label's complete cycle of Brahms songs appearing in the late 2010s and early 2020s concludes with this, its tenth volume. The cycle has a unique concept: the albums all have the same accompanist, Graham Johnson, but different singers. The programs are chosen by Johnson, presumably matching the singer to the songs involved, and his booklet notes are well worth the listener's time. Each individual album offers a nearly chronological set of songs, with the effect that Brahms' output is seen through a new lens each ...
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The Hyperion label's complete cycle of Brahms songs appearing in the late 2010s and early 2020s concludes with this, its tenth volume. The cycle has a unique concept: the albums all have the same accompanist, Graham Johnson, but different singers. The programs are chosen by Johnson, presumably matching the singer to the songs involved, and his booklet notes are well worth the listener's time. Each individual album offers a nearly chronological set of songs, with the effect that Brahms' output is seen through a new lens each time. This has been an exceptionally intelligent way to approach the songs of Brahms, who stated that he didn't want to hear more than three of his songs at a time. Plowing through each opus grouping is usually contraindicated, but Johnson rightly identifies the points where it makes sense: the Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103, work well as a group. The featured vocalist this time around, Sophie Rennert, ends the set on a strong note. The program here emphasizes two types of songs, those...
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Brahms frequently expressed his love for the mezzo-soprano voice. In her CD recital of Brahms songs, the young Austrian mezzo Sophie Rennert shows that Brahms' love was deserved. Rennert sings with passion, depth, and beauty, bringing forth the varied but mostly sad and intense character of Brahms as a composer of song. Her CD is the tenth and last of a series of the piano-accompanied songs of Brahms that was the project of the scholar-pianist Graham Johnson and of Hyperion Records. It is an outstanding addition to Johnson's earlier series of the songs of Schubert, Schumann, Faure, and Strauss. The CD was recorded in October 2018 in All Saints Church, London.
Although this is the final CD in the series, it offers an outstanding program of Brahms songs from the familiar to the lesser-known. Thus, Brahms' greatest song may well be "Eternal Love" op. 43 no. 1 to a text by one Hoffman Von Fallersleben. The song tells the story of a passionate, forbidden love between two mismatched lovers as they flee through a dark forest. Rennert and Johnson perform it beautifully.
Other individual songs on the CD include Brahms' first work in the genre, "True Love", op. 3 no 1., to a poem by Robert Reinick, which makes a remarkable beginning to the more than two hundred songs Brahms composed during his life. The song is a dialogue between a mother and a daughter, a form Brahms used often. The young woman expresses her love and faith in her absent lover while her mother tries to warn her away. The romantic and lyrical "May night" op. 43 no.2 to a text by Ludwig Holty is also frequently performed and captures a mood of intense loneliness. "My sleep grows ever quieter", op105 no2. to a text by Hermann Lingg is also a sad song in which a young woman on her deathbed thinks of her absent beloved and tries to beckon him to her side before she dies.
With the many individual songs, the highlight of this CD was the set of eight "Gypsy Songs", op. 103, that Brahms' friend, Hugo Conrat, translated from traditional Hungarian poems. These short songs feature erotic, swirling music of fire, passion, love and loss. It is a joy to hear this music in the performance by Rennert. The CD includes the two songs Brahms wrote for voice, piano and viola obligato as his op. 91, "Assuaged longing" and "A sacred cradle song" with Lawrence Power on the viola complimenting Rennert and Johnson. These pieces are "housemusic" of the highest order.
The CD concludes with six songs from Brahms collection of "49 German Folksongs" from late in his life. (The remaining songs from this collection are scattered through the earlier CDs). These are beautifully melodious pieces that Brahms himself regarded highly. I particularly liked the sad love song "Down there in the Valley" of the works on this CD.
As do the other CDs in the series, this CD includes extensive liner notes by Graham Johnson with the text and translation of each song together with Johnson's musical and textual discussions. These notes are invaluable for listeners wanting to explore Brahms' songs in depth or to learn more about a particular work.
I greatly enjoyed this CD and the melting voice of Sophie Rennert. The entire series, with its music, singing, pianism, and scholarship offers an outstanding way to explore the songs of Brahms. Lovers of art song will love this final recording in the series and its companions.
