Tenor Karim Sulayman is a charismatic figure who has lent his voice and image to activist causes and been photographed in tattooed, topless states. In this recital of Schubert songs, however, he plays it straight. Sulayman has specialized mostly in Baroque music, and he aims for, and delivers, sheer beauty of tone. It's well suited to this collection of Schubert songs, many of which deal with nocturnal themes and, for the most part, not terribly common items. As a star vehicle, the collection works well for the most part. ...
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Tenor Karim Sulayman is a charismatic figure who has lent his voice and image to activist causes and been photographed in tattooed, topless states. In this recital of Schubert songs, however, he plays it straight. Sulayman has specialized mostly in Baroque music, and he aims for, and delivers, sheer beauty of tone. It's well suited to this collection of Schubert songs, many of which deal with nocturnal themes and, for the most part, not terribly common items. As a star vehicle, the collection works well for the most part. Sulayman includes some Schubert standards, with Erlkönig, D. 328, being the most standard of all, and here, he's not quite as effective; his voice, at this point, doesn't have the variety to make the narrative songs really come alive. Yet at no point is Sulayman anything less than attractive to listen to, and the quietly confident accompaniment work of Yi-heng Yang is another positive. Sulayman's future may lie in the more flamboyant Baroque, but he has potential as a Schubertian...
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