This release, recorded in September 1997, is a Gesamtkunstwerk of distinctive charm from ‘The Wondrous Love Story of the Fair Magelone and Count Peter Provence’...

This release, recorded in September 1997, is a Gesamtkunstwerk of distinctive charm from ‘The Wondrous Love Story of the Fair Magelone and Count Peter Provence’ of Ludwig Tieck and the fifteen ‘Romanzen’ of Johannes Brahms. Teack’s novella is based on a chivalric romance from the 14th century, which in turn is itself based on a saga from Provence. It tells the story of the knight Peter, victorious in his every tournament. It tells of his travels, of his courting of Magelone, the beautiful princess of Naples, of her kidnapping, their separation and the lovers’ happy reunification after numerous adventures. The peculiar poetry of these lied texts, their emotional variety and unusual form impressed the young Johannes Brahms who set the songs to music. The 15 Romanzen aus “Die schone Magelone” was published as Opus 33 in 1869. Gert Westphal, whose inimitable speaking voice expresses the innocence of the fairy tale as well as the archaic literary language of Ludwig Tieck. Spirited, trenchant, but without overdoing it, this experienced reciter enables listeners to experience the external and internal events of the story, which make the dramatic and emotional settings of the songs understandable. In particular, Andras Schiff elevates his piano part far above what one would usually expect from a lieder accompanist. His playing encompasses the entire spectrum from lyrical tenderness to effectively exploited, powerfully intensified drama. It is not merely a masterful piano performance, it is the high art of musical narrative.