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Wolf: Italienisches Liederbuch / Clayton, Sampson, Middleton
BIS

Wolf: Italienisches Liederbuch / Clayton, Sampson, Middleton

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Details

Composer
Hugo Wolf
Artist
Carolyn Sampson, Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
Format
SACD
Label
BIS
Released
Jul 01, 2022
Catalog #
BIS-2553
UPC
7318599925530

About

Composed in feverish bouts interrupted by long periods of inaction, Hugo Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch was brought to completion in 1896. The 46 songs are settings of poems in German by Paul Heyse, after Italian folk songs – miniatures with a duration of less than 2 minutes in most cases. Heyse’s collection numbered more than 350 poems, but Wolf ignored the ballads and laments, and concentrated almost exclusively on the rispetti. These are short love poems which chart, against a Tuscan landscape, the everyday jealousies, flirtations, joys and despairs of men and women in love. Heyse’s translations often intensify the simple Italian of the original poems, and in their turn, Wolf’s settings represent a further heightening of emotion. Miniatures they may be, but many of the songs strike unforgettably at the heart. When Wolf’s songbook is performed in its entirety, it is usually done by a male and a female singer, although this is not specified in the score. It is not uncommon for them to be transposed, but the songs are written for high voices, and are here performed by a soprano and a tenor – Carolyn Sampson and Alan Clayton – with Joseph Middleton at the piano. The performers have chosen to present the songs in the order they appear in the printed collection, dividing them between themselves.

REVIEWS:

The Italian Songbook consists of two groups of songs. The first group, consisting of 22 songs, was set in 1890 – 1891 and the second group with 24 songs in 1896. Strictly speaking it isn’t a cycle, and in some recordings the interpreters have opted for their personal order of the songs, but many stick to the order in which Wolf published them, and this is also the case with the present issue. The two singers are well-matched. Carolyn Sampson has been an avid advocate for baroque music for many years, but she has also ventured into art songs...Tenor Allan Clayton‘s career has focused on opera – his Peter Grimes at Covent Garden recently was a resounding triumph – but he has also frequently given song recitals...So, I had high expectations when I set to work with this disc.

The first thing I observed was the sensitive playing of Joseph Middleton, pliable and perceptive. Secondly I noted Carolyn Sampson’s girlish tone in Auch kleine Dinge, and her soft and inward reading. This was a recurrent feature throughout the programme.

When Allan Clayton made his entrance, he at once convinced me: here he displayed his armoury of nuances that had enthralled me on the Liszt disc, his beautiful pianissimo – listen to the end of Gesegnet sei (tr. 4) or the mastery half-voice in Der Mond hat eine schwere Klag’ erhoben – but on the reverse side of the coin his dramatic capacity was just as telling: Wenn du mich mit den Augen streifst und lachst (tr. 38) is just one instance. And Carolyn Sampson has the same sense for drama: so agitated and energetic in Wer rief dich denn? (tr. 6). Looking back on my notes, I see that the pad is littered with positive remarks and exclamation marks, but printing them here would surely be rather tiresome reading – and I rather leave it to those who buy the disc to find all the felicities these two well-endowed Liedersänger indulge in. The prestige word for all singing of Lieder is nuances, and from the above I believe that readers have understood that Carolyn Sampson and Allan Clayton are masterly in that respect.

How do they stand up against the competition from other recordings? Very well, I would say...Sampson and Clayton are certainly among the top contenders.

-- MusicWeb International

Tracklist 46 tracks

  1. 1 No. 1. Auch kleine Dinge 02:13
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1. Auch kleine Dinge
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  2. 2 No. 2. Mir ward gesagt 02:00
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2. Mir ward gesagt
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  3. 3 No. 3. Ihr seid die Allerschönste 01:33
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 3. Ihr seid die Allerschönste
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  4. 4 No. 4. Gesegnet sei, durch den die Welt 01:31
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 4. Gesegnet sei, durch den die Welt
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  5. 5 No. 5. Selig ihr Blinden 01:45
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 5. Selig ihr Blinden
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  6. 6 No. 6. Wer rief dich denn 01:01
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 6. Wer rief dich denn
    Duration
    01:01
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  7. 7 No. 7. Der Mond hat eine schwere Klag' erhoben 02:19
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 7. Der Mond hat eine schwere Klag' erhoben
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  8. 8 No. 8. Nun lass uns Frieden schliessen 01:36
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 8. Nun lass uns Frieden schliessen
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  9. 9 No. 9. Dass doch gemalt 01:54
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 9. Dass doch gemalt
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  10. 10 No. 10. Du denkst mit einem Fädchen 01:09
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 10. Du denkst mit einem Fädchen
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  11. 11 No. 11. Wie lange schon 02:32
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 11. Wie lange schon
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  12. 12 No. 12. Nein, junger Herr 00:42
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 12. Nein, junger Herr
    Duration
    00:42
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  13. 13 No. 13. Hoffärtig seid Ihr, schönes Kind 00:39
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 13. Hoffärtig seid Ihr, schönes Kind
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  14. 14 No. 14. Geselle, woll'n wir uns in Kutten hüllen 02:26
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 14. Geselle, woll'n wir uns in Kutten hüllen
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  15. 15 No. 15. Mein Liebster ist so klein 01:31
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 15. Mein Liebster ist so klein
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  16. 16 No. 16. Ihr jungen Leute 01:09
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 16. Ihr jungen Leute
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  17. 17 No. 17. Und willst du deinen Liebsten sterben sehen 02:04
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 17. Und willst du deinen Liebsten sterben sehen
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  18. 18 No. 18. Heb' auf dein blondes Haupt 01:33
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 18. Heb' auf dein blondes Haupt
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  19. 19 No. 19. Wir haben beide lange Zeit geschwiegen 02:20
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 19. Wir haben beide lange Zeit geschwiegen
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  20. 20 No. 20. Mein Liebster singt am Haus 01:20
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 20. Mein Liebster singt am Haus
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  21. 21 No. 21. Man sagt mir, deine Mutter 01:00
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 21. Man sagt mir, deine Mutter
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  22. 22 No. 22. Ein Ständchen Euch zu bringen 01:10
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 22. Ein Ständchen Euch zu bringen
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  23. 23 No. 23. Was für ein Lied soll dir gesungen werden 01:48
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 23. Was für ein Lied soll dir gesungen werden
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  24. 24 No. 24. Ich esse nun mein Brot 01:34
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 24. Ich esse nun mein Brot
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  25. 25 No. 25. Mein Liebster hat zu Tische 00:56
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 25. Mein Liebster hat zu Tische
    Duration
    00:56
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  26. 26 No. 26. Ich liess mir sagen 02:21
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 26. Ich liess mir sagen
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  27. 27 No. 27. Schon streckt' ich aus im Bett 01:38
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 27. Schon streckt' ich aus im Bett
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  28. 28 No. 28. Du sagst mir, dass ich keine Fürstin 01:16
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 28. Du sagst mir, dass ich keine Fürstin
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  29. 29 No. 29. Wohl kenn' ich Euren Stand 01:46
    Track
    29
    Title
    No. 29. Wohl kenn' ich Euren Stand
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  30. 30 No. 30. Lass sie nur gehn 01:20
    Track
    30
    Title
    No. 30. Lass sie nur gehn
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  31. 31 No. 31. Wie soll ich fröhlich sein 01:27
    Track
    31
    Title
    No. 31. Wie soll ich fröhlich sein
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  32. 32 No. 32. Was soll der Zorn, mein Schatz 01:37
    Track
    32
    Title
    No. 32. Was soll der Zorn, mein Schatz
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  33. 33 No. 33. Sterb' ich, so hüllt in Blumen 02:36
    Track
    33
    Title
    No. 33. Sterb' ich, so hüllt in Blumen
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  34. 34 No. 34. Und steht Ihr früh am Morgen auf 03:00
    Track
    34
    Title
    No. 34. Und steht Ihr früh am Morgen auf
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  35. 35 No. 35. Benedeit die sel'ge Mutter 03:52
    Track
    35
    Title
    No. 35. Benedeit die sel'ge Mutter
    Duration
    03:52
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  36. 36 No. 36. Wenn du, mein Liebster 01:28
    Track
    36
    Title
    No. 36. Wenn du, mein Liebster
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  37. 37 No. 37. Wie viele Zeit verlor ich 01:18
    Track
    37
    Title
    No. 37. Wie viele Zeit verlor ich
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  38. 38 No. 38. Wenn du mich mit den Augen 01:37
    Track
    38
    Title
    No. 38. Wenn du mich mit den Augen
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  39. 39 No. 39. Gesegnet sei das Grün 01:29
    Track
    39
    Title
    No. 39. Gesegnet sei das Grün
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  40. 40 No. 40. O wär' dein Haus 01:22
    Track
    40
    Title
    No. 40. O wär' dein Haus
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  41. 41 No. 41. Heut Nacht erhob ich mich 01:35
    Track
    41
    Title
    No. 41. Heut Nacht erhob ich mich
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  42. 42 No. 42. Nicht länger kann ich singen 00:53
    Track
    42
    Title
    No. 42. Nicht länger kann ich singen
    Duration
    00:53
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  43. 43 No. 43. Schweig' einmal still 01:01
    Track
    43
    Title
    No. 43. Schweig' einmal still
    Duration
    01:01
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  44. 44 No. 44. O wüsstest du, wie viel ich deinetwegen 01:23
    Track
    44
    Title
    No. 44. O wüsstest du, wie viel ich deinetwegen
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Allan Clayton, Joseph Middleton
  45. 45 No. 45. Verschling' der Abgrund 01:14
    Track
    45
    Title
    No. 45. Verschling' der Abgrund
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton
  46. 46 No. 46. Ich hab' in Penna einen Liebsten 00:54
    Track
    46
    Title
    No. 46. Ich hab' in Penna einen Liebsten
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton