Mahler - Lieder

Christian Gerhaher, Gerold Huber

RCA 88697 56773-2 Buy now

Mahler Lieder aus ‘Das Knaben Wunderhorn’ – Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?; Das irdische Leben; Rheinlegendchen; Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen; Urlicht Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, ‘Songs of a Wayfarer’ – Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht; Ging heut’ Morgen übers Feld; Ich hab’ ein glühend Messer; Die zwei blauen Augen Lieder und Gesänge – No 1, Frühlingsmorgen; No 5, Phantasie aus Don Juan; No 7, Ich ging mit Lust durch einen grünen Wald; No 10, Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz; No 11, Ablösung im Sommer; No 13, Nicht wiedersehen! 5 Rückert-Lieder – No 1, Ich atmet’ einem linden Duft; No 2, Liebst du um Schönheit; No 3, Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder; No 4, Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen; No 5, Um Mitternacht

Christian Gerhaher bar Gerold Huber pf

(76’ • DDD)

Here is a treasurable memento of the Mahler anniversary year. For the best part of a decade the partnership of baritone Christian Gerhaher and pianist Gerold Huber has been following a path through the German Lieder repertoire, giving us a series of highly-recommended CDs from Schubert to Mahler, taking in en route several exceptional Schumann recitals, in particular one called “Melancholie” and another with an unforgettable performance of Dichterliebe.

Almost every year one of their discs has appeared in the Gramophone Awards shortlist and, in 2006, a Schubert recital entitled “Abendbilder” scooped the Solo Vocal prize. This new Mahler disc finds singer and accompanist again at the peak of their powers. Theirs is truly a partnership: how could Gerhaher possibly risk such intimate singing if he did not have an accompanist as precisely attuned to his inward, sensitive style as Huber? Their performance of the Rückert-Lieder here is pure poetry. The Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen combine springtime freshness with the ultimate in gentleness. No other baritone, not even Fischer-Dieskau in his prime or estimable contemporaries such as Matthias Goerne or Gerald Finley (last year’s winner), sounds more tenderly beautiful on disc.

It is heartening to honour a singer who embodies the traditional German arts so exquisitely – beauty of voice, architecture of line, a natural speaking of the words. You want an example? Try “Urlicht”, the last of the songs in this recital. As the poet looks forward to “das ewig selig’ Leben”, the simple but eloquent Gerhaher is surely the guide we want to light the journey. Richard Fairman