Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust / Terfel, Mattila, Abbado

$33.99
Label
Sony Masterworks
Release Date
July 29, 2014
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      SCHUMANN, ROBERT
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Swedish Radio Chorus
    • PERFORMER
      Barbara, Töl, Brigitte, Bonney, Poschner-Klebel
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      July 29, 2014
    • UPC
      074646630822
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      SONY66308
    • LABEL
      Sony Masterworks
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Choral - Secular
    Works ⌄

    1. Ouverture

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    2. Part I: I. Szene im Garten (Faust, Gretchen, Mephistopheles, Marthe)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Bryn Terfel, Karita Mattila, Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Barbara Bonney

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    3. Part I: II. Gretchen vor dem Bild der Mater Dolorosa (Gretchen)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Karita Mattila

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    4. Part I: III. Szene im Dom (Boser Geist, Gretchen, Chorus)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Karita Mattila

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    5. Part II: IV. Sonnenaufgang: Die ihr dies Haupt umschwebt im luft'gen Kreise (Ariel, Chorus, Faust)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Endrik Wottrich, Bryn Terfel

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    6. Part II: IV. Sonnenaufgang: Taler grunen, Hugel schwellen (Chorus, Ariel)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Endrik Wottrich

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    7. Part II: IV. Sonnenaufgang: Des Lebens Pulse schlagen frisch-lebendig (Faust)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Bryn Terfel

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    8. Part II: IV. Sonnenaufgang: So ist es also, wenn ein sehnend Hoffen (Faust)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Bryn Terfel

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    9. Part II: V. Mitternacht: Ich heisse der Mangel (Mangel, Schuld, Not, Sorge, 4 Women)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Susan Graham, Iris Vermillion, Brigitte Poschner-Klebel, Barbara Bonney

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    10. Part II: V. Mitternacht: Vier sah ich kommen, drei nur gehn (Faust, Sorge)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Bryn Terfel, Barbara Bonney

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    11. Part II: V. Mitternacht: Die Nacht scheint tiefer tief hereinzudringen (Faust)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Bryn Terfel

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    12. Part II: VI. Fausts Tod: Herbei, Herbei! (Mephistopheles, Lemuren, Faust, Chorus)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Tölz Boys' Choir, Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Hans Peter Blochwitz, Bryn Terfel

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    13. Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Waldung, sie schwankt heran (Chorus)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    14. Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Ewiger Wonnebrand (Pater Ecstaticus)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Endrik Wottrich

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    15. Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Fussen (Pater Profundus, Pater Seraphicus, Selige Knaben)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Harry Peeters, Bryn Terfel, Hans Peter Blochwitz

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    16. Part III. VII. Fausts Verklarung: Welch ein Morgenwolkchen schwebet (Pater Seraphicus, Chorus)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Tölz Boys' Choir, Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Bryn Terfel

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    17. Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Gerettet ist das edle Glied (Selige Knaben, Chorus)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Tölz Boys' Choir, Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Harry Peeters

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    18. Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Gerettet ist das edle Glied (Engel)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Tölz Boys' Choir, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    19. Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Hier ist die Aussicht frei (Doctor Marianus)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Bryn Terfel

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    20. Part III. VII. Fausts Verklarung: Dir, der Unberuhrbaren (Doctor Marianus, Chorus, Magna Peccatrix, Mulier Samaritana, Maria Aegyptiaca, Una Poenitentium, Selige Knaben, Gretchen, Mater Gloriosa)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Bryn Terfel, Brigitte Poschner-Klebel, Susan Graham, Iris Vermillion, Karita Mattila

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado

    21. Part III: VII. Chorus Mysticus: Alles Vergangliche ist nur ein Gleichnis (Chorus, SSATB)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Ensemble: Tölz Boys' Choir, Swedish Radio Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

      Performer: Barbara Bonney, Brigitte Poschner-Klebel, Iris Vermillion, Endrik Wottrich, Bryn Terfel

      Conductor: Claudio Abbado


Schumann’s treatment of Goethe is a curiously uneven work, composed at various stages in the last decade of his life. Parts 1 and 2 consist of dramatic scenes, which lie somewhere between opera and oratorio, rather as in Berlioz’s Damnation of Faust; but Schumann’s third part takes the music on to an altogether higher plane, setting the mystical final scene from Goethe’s poem (the same text Mahler used in his Eighth Symphony). Recordings and performances of the complete work are rare, partly because of its length (nearly two hours) and the need for multiple soloists (ten in this performance); so this exceptionally fine new Sony set, recorded ‘live’ at Berlin concerts last year, is very welcome indeed. Bryn Terfel is an ideally ardent, troubled Faust, and sings a large amount of music with consummate authority. Mattila makes us feel for Gretchen, and the ensemble numbers are led by Barbara Bonney’s silvery high soprano. The choral singing (Swedish choirs prepared by the legendary Eric Ericson) is simply outstanding, as are the Tölz Boys Choir’s lusty contributions. Most importantly of all, Claudio Abbado conducts with flair and also with great sensitivity, and the members of the orchestra respond as if they believe in every note. If this set doesn’t win an award, there’s no justice in the world.

Performance: 5 (out of 5), Sound: 5 (out of 5)

-- BBC Music Magazine