Angelika Kirchschlager: Wolf & Strauss songs
Angelika Kirchschlager is a terrific mezzo-soprano, and in particular is recognized internationally for her interpretations of songs by Richard Strauss. She gives regular solo recitals, balancing her operatic career with lieder performances. Roger Vignoles, is her long-standing musical partner.
Now in this collection Angelika Kirchschlager and Roger Vignoles collaborate to perform nine Strauss songs as well as Wolf’s lieder to texts by Eduard Mörike and Gottfried Keller.
Hugo Wolf set 43 of Mörike’s poems to music during a period of intense creativity in which he developed a heady new musical language. Kirchschlager delights in the opportunity to convey this with amazing coloring of phrases which are beautifully matched by the piano. The recording provides encores of music by each of the two composers, including Strauss’ triumphant ‘Nichts,’ a fitting end to a compelling program.
The tracks of this CD are as follows:
Strauss, R:
Heimliche Aufforderung, Op. 27 No. 3
Mein Herz ist stumm, Op. 19 No. 6
Du meines Herzens Krönelein, Op. 21 No. 2
Meinem Kinde, Op. 37 No. 3
Muttertändelei, Op. 43 No. 2
Ruhe, meine Seele!, Op. 27 No. 1
Für fünfzehn Pfennige Op. 36 No. 2
Morgen, Op. 27 No. 4
Nichts, Op. 10 No. 2
encore
Wolf, H:
Auf einer Wanderung (No. 15 from Mörike-Lieder)
Im Frühling (No. 13 from Mörike-Lieder)
Auf ein altes Bild (No. 23 from Mörike-Lieder)
Begegnung (No. 8 from Mörike-Lieder)
Das verlassene Mägdlein
Er ist’s
Alte Weisen, Sechs Gedichte von Gottfried Keller
Nimmersatte Liebe (No. 9 from Mörike-Lieder)
encore
Performed by Angelika Kirchschlager (mezzo-soprano) & Roger Vignoles (piano)
Here are some well-deserved press quotes:
“What a generous communicator is the vivacious Angelika Kirchschlager…”
…………….BBC Music Magazine, December 2010 ****
“Since her full blooming on the operatic stage, Kirchschlager’s mezzo has grown enormously – and her performing character with it. She still knows how to hold a recital audience in the palm of her hand, but now there’s a newly expansive energy firing all she sings ….. Kirchschlager’s dark mezzo smouldered with sensuality,”
So wrote the Times after Angelika Kirchschlager and Roger Vignoles’ February 2010 Wigmore Hall performance of the same collection of Hugo Wolf and Richard Strauss songs.
Here are two of my favorite singers: Barbara Bonney and Angelika Kirchschlager, with Malcolm Martineau, piano, performing “Die Schwestern” by Johannes Brahms
Tags: Angelika Kirchschlager, Strauss, Hugo Wolf