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Schumann: Szenen aus Goethes Faust / Gerhaher, Karg, Harding
BR Klassik

Schumann: Szenen aus Goethes Faust / Gerhaher, Karg, Harding

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Details

Composer
SCHUMANN, ROBERT
Artist
Harding, Gerhaher, Karg, Miles, Eriksmoen, Fink, Staples, Rydl, N
Format
CD
Label
BR Klassik
Released
Oct 14, 2014
Catalog #
900122
UPC
4035719001228

About



Recording of the Month

When it comes to the music of Robert Schumann the dramatic works have always seemed to be the poor relations when compared to the rest of his music. This is mainly due to the writing of Eduard Hanslick, who at best damned the works with faint praise. The so-called "War of the Romantics" did not help: Schumann was seen as part of the conservative side by the followers of the modernists who included Liszt and Wagner. Either way his dramatic output and especially his opera, Genoveva, a work I enjoy, suffered as a consequence. Scenes from Goethe's Faust did not fare much better, which is a real shame as I have always regarded it as one of his greatest pieces, and not just of his late period, the music of which Hanslick all but dismisses. A convincing argument for the Scenes as a major work is made in the excellent accompanying book.

One of the perceived problems is that it is difficult to describe. It is not an opera but it's hardly an oratorio either. Perhaps a new genre needs to be developed to describe it. Until then perhaps we can call it an opera-oratorio, a description that highlights the best that the work has to offer in both worlds.

Scenes from Goethe's Faust had a prolonged gestation period of some nine years (1844-1853), with the third section having originally been conceived as a standalone work. The first two sections - Schumann was the first composer to set part two of Goethe's text to music - were added later. This led to the criticism that it was unbalanced with the best music being found in the final section, while the rest, which was composed during the period of Schumann's final illness said to lack the spark of inspiration. This is far from the truth. The work has to be seen as a whole or the scenes do not work together. These sections are used to highlight specific aspects of the 'Faust' myth and not the story as a whole.

If the third part could be said to be the most inspired, this is due to Goethe's text. The second part is the most dramatic and lends itself to a more dramatic interpretation through music. The result is a work which deserves more recognition. I would love to hear it performed live but whilst I can't see that happening anytime soon, this is the second new recording to have appeared in the last few years; Wit's Naxos version is the other. Perhaps people are coming to recognise this for what it is: one of Schumann's most important pieces as well as a seminal work in Romantic musical literature.

When it comes to performances the classic recording by Benjamin Britten has always been seen as the one to beat, although I must say that I have always had a soft spot for Abbado's star-studded live Sony recording from Berlin in 1994. I have always enjoyed Abbado's Schumann recordings. Is it any coincidence therefore that Daniel Harding, who became the assistant to Abbado in Berlin the following year, should choose to perform and ultimately record the work as well. This is an excellent performance, a true case of the apprentice learning well from the master. Christian Gerhaher is every bit as convincing as Bryn Terfel in the title role, while Christiane Karg, a soprano to watch, brings out a little more vulnerability to the role of Gretchen than Karita Mattila. That said there is very little to choose between the two, with all performers, soloists, chorus and orchestra, being on top form. Where the present recording wins hands down is on recording quality. There have obviously been a great many improvements in miking live performances over the last nineteen years, as this new recorded sound is a great deal brighter and more natural than that enjoyed by Abbado. This helps to bring out every nuance of the music and gives the listener new insights, especially when it comes to orchestration.

The booklet essay is excellent. It places the work in its true place of prominence. Added to this we find an interview with Christian Gerhaher in which he discusses the piece and a kind of glossary in which the characters are explained. This is all packaged in an attractive hardback book format.

– Stuart Sillitoe, MusicWeb International

Tracklist 21 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Ouvertüre 08:30
    Track
    1
    Title
    Ouvertüre
    Duration
    08:30
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  3. 2 Pt. I: Szene im Garten 04:59
    Track
    2
    Title
    Pt. I: Szene im Garten
    Duration
    04:59
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher, Christiane Karg, Alastair Miles, Mari Eriksmoen
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  4. 3 Pt. II: Gretchen vor dem Bild der Mater Dolorosa 04:43
    Track
    3
    Title
    Pt. II: Gretchen vor dem Bild der Mater Dolorosa
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christiane Karg
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  5. 4 Pt. III: Szene im Dom 04:43
    Track
    4
    Title
    Pt. III: Szene im Dom
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Alastair Miles, Christiane Karg
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  6. 5 Pt. IV: Sonnenaufgang. Die ihr dies Haupt umschwebt im luft'gen Kreise 07:14
    Track
    5
    Title
    Pt. IV: Sonnenaufgang. Die ihr dies Haupt umschwebt im luft'gen Kreise
    Duration
    07:14
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Andrew Staples, Christian Gerhaher
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  7. 6 Pt. IV: Sonnenaufgang. Thäler grünen, Hügel schwellen 04:11
    Track
    6
    Title
    Pt. IV: Sonnenaufgang. Thäler grünen, Hügel schwellen
    Duration
    04:11
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Andrew Staples
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  8. 7 Pt. IV: Sonnenaufgang. Des Lebens Pulse schlagen frisch lebendig 04:05
    Track
    7
    Title
    Pt. IV: Sonnenaufgang. Des Lebens Pulse schlagen frisch lebendig
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  9. 8 Pt. IV: Sonnenaufgang. So ist es also, wenn ein sehnend Hoffen 03:56
    Track
    8
    Title
    Pt. IV: Sonnenaufgang. So ist es also, wenn ein sehnend Hoffen
    Duration
    03:56
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  10. 9 Pt. V: Mitternacht. Ich heiße der Mangel 02:08
    Track
    9
    Title
    Pt. V: Mitternacht. Ich heiße der Mangel
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Mari Eriksmoen, Bernarda Fink, Barbara Fleckenstein, Sabine Staudinger
    Ensemble
    soloists Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  11. 10 Pt. V: Mitternacht. Vier sah ich kommen, drei nur gehn 08:41
    Track
    10
    Title
    Pt. V: Mitternacht. Vier sah ich kommen, drei nur gehn
    Duration
    08:41
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher, Mari Eriksmoen
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  12. 11 Pt. V: Mitternacht. Die Nacht scheint tiefer tief hereinzudringen 02:38
    Track
    11
    Title
    Pt. V: Mitternacht. Die Nacht scheint tiefer tief hereinzudringen
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  13. 12 Pt. VI: Fausts Tod 14:40
    Track
    12
    Title
    Pt. VI: Fausts Tod
    Duration
    14:40
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Alastair Miles, Christian Gerhaher
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  14. Disc 2
  15. 1 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Waldung, sie schwankt heran 03:28
    Track
    1
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Waldung, sie schwankt heran
    Duration
    03:28
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  16. 2 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Ewiger Wonnebrand 01:41
    Track
    2
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Ewiger Wonnebrand
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Andrew Staples
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  17. 3 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Füßen 02:41
    Track
    3
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Füßen
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Kurt Rydl, Christian Gerhaher
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  18. 4 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Welch ein Morgenwölkchen schwebet 02:57
    Track
    4
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Welch ein Morgenwölkchen schwebet
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  19. 5 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Gerettet ist das edle Glied 06:22
    Track
    5
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Gerettet ist das edle Glied
    Duration
    06:22
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Mari Eriksmoen, Bernarda Fink, Andrew Staples, Tareq Nazmi
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  20. 6 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Gerettet ist das edle Glied 03:46
    Track
    6
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Gerettet ist das edle Glied
    Duration
    03:46
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Mari Eriksmoen, Bernarda Fink, Andrew Staples, Tareq Nazmi
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  21. 7 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Hier ist die Aussicht frei 04:36
    Track
    7
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Hier ist die Aussicht frei
    Duration
    04:36
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  22. 8 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Dir, der Unberührbaren 07:57
    Track
    8
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Dir, der Unberührbaren
    Duration
    07:57
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher, Bernarda Fink, Mari Eriksmoen, Sabine Staudinger, Christiane Karg
    Ensemble
    Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding
  23. 9 Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis 09:30
    Track
    9
    Title
    Pt. VII: Fausts Verklärung. Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis
    Duration
    09:30
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Christian Gerhaher, Christiane Karg, Alastair Miles, Mari Eriksmoen, Bernarda Fink, Andrew Staples, Kurt Rydl, Tareq Nazmi, Barbara Fleckenstein, Sabine Staudinger
    Ensemble
    soloists Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Daniel Harding