CDs 1 - 10
Vol 1 - Dame Janet Baker (Mezzo Soprano) CDJ33001 Recorded Feb 1987; RM Score 10.
Der Jüngling am Bache, D30; Thekla, D73; Schäfers Klagelied, D121; Nahe des Geliebten, D162; Meeres Stille, D216; Amalia, D195; Die Entwartung, D159; Wanderers Nachtlied I, D224; Der Fischer, D225; Erster Verlust, D226; Wonne der Wehmut D260; An der Mond D296; Das Geheimnis, D250; Lied, D284; Der Fluchtling, D402; An den Fruhling, D587; Der Alpenjager, D588; Der Pilgrim, D794; Sehnsucht, D636
This, the first in the series, but still one of my favourites, earned a richly deserved Gramophone Award in 1989. The series starts with Der Jüngling am Bache, which GJ argues is the first Schubert song (earlier works were ballads), and moves on to Schäfers Klagelied, his first song performed in a public concert. There is no overtly defined theme for this disk, but all the songs are by Schiller or Goethe, each of whom had so many poems set by Schubert, that there are plenty left for whole CDs to be dedicated to them..
Vol 2 - Stephen Varcoe (Baritone) CDJ33001, Recorded Oct 1987; RM Score 9
Fischerlied, D351; Fischerlied, D562; Fischerweise, D881; Widerschein, D639; Fahrt zum Hades, D526; Selige Welt, F743; Am Bach im Fruhling, D361; Am Flusse, D766; Der Strom, D565; Auf der Donau, D553; Der Schiffer, D536; Wie Ulfru fischt, D525; Der Taucher, D111
Stephen Varcoe is a British Baritone, much in demand in 18th and 19th century repertory. This is the only CD in the series which is under an hour, which is slightly disappointing, as I particularly like his voice. The theme of the disc is water, with many 'brook' songs, which Schubert was to set with great success throughout his life. Indeed, you could argue that he had a great affinity with water, though he never saw the sea. It includes 2 quite different settings of Fischerlied, both of which are strophic songs, but with very different emotional appeals. Included in this fine disk is Schiller's Der Taucher (the Diver). This famous ballad is nearly half an hour long!
Vol 3 - Ann Murray (Mezzo Soprano) CDJ003, Recorded November 1988; RM Score 9
Lieb Minna, D222; Pax vobiscum, D551; Iphigenia, D573; Namenstagslied, D695; Augenlied, D297; Viola, D786; Liedesend, D473; Abschied D475; Ruckweg, D476; Der Jungling und der Tod, D545; Trost im Liede, D546; An die Freunde, D654; Der Zwerg, D771; Nacht und Traume, D827
Another excellent recording by Ann Murray, who hails from Dublin and is, I believe, the wife of Philip Langridge (see Vol 4!). The theme of this disc is 'Schubert and his Friends'. The lieder are all from poems written by members of his immediate circle (von Spaun, Mayrhofer, Stadler, von Schober, von Collin). It includes in Der Zwerg one of Schubert's better known songs, which I find more convincing from a baritone.
Vol 4 - Philip Langridge (tenor) CDJ33004, Recorded September 1988; RM Score 9½
Der Liedler, D209; Sangers Morgenlied, D163/D165; Das war ich, D174; Liebestandelei, D206; Liebesrausch, D179; Sehnsucht der Liebe, D180; Das Gestorte Gluck, D309; Auf der Riesenkoppe, D611; Am See, D124; Alte Liebe rostet nie, D477; Am Strome, D539; Nachtstuck, D672; Liebeslauschen, D698; An Herrn Josef von Spaun, Assessor in Linz (Epistel), D749
Another of my favourite discs, which won a Gramophone Critics Choice. The theme is again 'Schubert and His Friends'. It closes with the incredible Epistel 'An Herrn Josef von Spaun, Assessor in Linz' This is a prank from the Schubert circle: a poem from Matthäus von Collin (von Spaun's cousin) about von Spaun being sent to Linz (as a tax collector) and not answering letters. It is set as a skit on the Italian Operatic style, and requires (to quote John Reed) 'a powerful flexible voice with a wide range of dynamics and expression and a tessitura extending over 2 octaves'. Langridge (who I saw as Peter Grimes last year) fits the bill magnificently. It's worth getting the CD just for this track. My other recordings of this are both by Janet Baker and, wonderful singer though she is, they are just not as powerful.
Vol 5 - Elizabeth Connell (Soprano) CDJ33005, Recorded Sept 1988; RM Score 8½
Das Lied im Grunen, D917; An die Natur, D372; Wehmut, D772; Lied, D483; Die Mutter Erde, D788; Die Erde, D989; Ganymed, D544; Taglich zu singen, D533; Die Allmacht D852; Erinnerung (Totenopfer), D101; Klage der Ceres, D323; Die Sternenwelten, D307; Morgenlied, D381; Dem Unendlichen, D291
Another beautifully sung disc.The theme is 'Schubert and the Countryside.
Vol 6 - Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) CDJ33006, Recorded Sept 1989; RM Score 10
Die Nacht, D534; Lass Wolken an Hageln ruh'n - Jagdlied, D521; Abendstern, D806; Abends unter der Linde, D235/237; Der Knabe in der Wiege, D579; Abendlied fur die Entfernte, D856; Wilkommen und Abschied, D767; Vor meine Wiege, D927; Der Vater mit dem Kind, D906; Des Fischers Liebesgluck, D933; Die Sterne, D939; Alinde, D904; An die laute, D905; Zur guten Nacht, D903
Possibly my favourite disc with a male singer. GJ seems to have
surpassed himself with selecting songs most appropriate to Rolfe
Johnson's voice, which I particularly enjoy. The theme is 'Schubert
and the Nocturne'. A couple of the songs have an accompaniment from a
male chorus. I'm particularly fond of Alinde 
,
and the magnificent, though incomplete, Ossian setting Die
Nacht
Vol 7 - Elly Ameling (Soprano) CDJ33007, Recorded August 1989; RM Score 9½
Minona, D152; Der Jungling am Bache, D192; Stimme der Liebe, D187, Von Ida, D228; Naturgenuss, D188; Das Madchens Klage, D191; Die Sterbende, D186; An die Nachtigall, D196; An den Mond, D193; Die Liebe, D210; Meerestille, D215a; Iden Nachtgesang, D227; Das Sehnen, D231; Die Spinnerin, D247; Wer kauft Liebesgotter?, D261; An den Fruhling, D283; Das Rosenband, D280; Liane, D298; Idens Schwanenlied, D317; Luisens Antwort, D319; Mein Gruss an den Mai, D305; Kennst du das Land?, D321; Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, D310a/b
Another wonderful disc from a famed Schubertian, with the theme of 1815, the 'annus mirabilis' of song composition when Schubert produced about 150 songs, laying the foundations for his immortality.
Vol 8 - Sarah Walker (Mezzo Soprano) CDJ33008, Recorded May 1989; RM Score 9
Chloen, D462; Hochzeitslied, D463; In der Mitternacht, D464; Trauer der Liebe, D465; Die Perle, D466; An der Mond in einer Herbstnacht, D614; Die Nonne, D208; Berthas Lied in der Nacht, D653; Standchen (Zogernd leise), D920; Abendlied der Furstin, D495; Wegenlied, D498; Erlkönig, D328
This disc from British Mezzo Soprano Sarah Walker (who created quite a stir in her performances at the 'Last Night of the Proms' in the 1980s with spectacular dresses) is also about Schubert and the Nocturne, with an introductory essay largely about Schubert and Benjamin Britten. It includes Erlkönig, (the song that made his name, proudly published as his Opus 1), with a recording which has a lot of energy, but where the balance seems rather odd - almost as if the microphone is inside the piano lid. Both Sarah Walker and Graham Johnson sat on a panel discussing Lieder performance at a SIUK Schubert day: she was a hoot.
Vol 9 - Arleen Auger (Soprano) CDJ33009, Recorded October 1989; RM Score 9
Misero pargoletto, D42; Gott hore meine Stimme, D190/5; Arietten der Lucinde und Claudine, D239/3,6; Blanka, D631; Lilla an die Morgenrote, D273; Daphne am Bach, D411; Delphine, D857; Der gute Hirt, D449; Der Sanger am Felsen, D482; Lambertine, D301; Thekla, D595; Didone abbandonata, D510; Vier Canzonen, D688; La pastorella al prato, D528; Romanze, D787/3; Romanze 'Der Vollmond strahlt', D797/3b; Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D965
The late Arleen Auger was a Soprano with a particularly high, light voice, which on the high notes (and boy are there some high notes on this disc) 'rattles around your head', to quote my son. The theme of this disc is songs with an operatic or theatrical connection, some of which particularly suit her voice, though others, perhaps, do not. Certainly the quality of this disc is a little patchy, though I do rather like it, but I recall that the critics were not all that impressed when it was first issued. One overwhelmingly redeeming feature is the fact that this is the disc which contains Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (The Shepherd on the Rock), which is possibly the last song Schubert wrote, and one of the lovliest, with a truly gorgeous clarinet obbligato.
Vol 10 - Martyn Hill (Tenor) CDJ33010, Recorded May 1990; RM Score 9½
Der Sanger, D149; Auf einen Kirchhof, D151; Am Flusse, D160; An Mignon, D161; Vergebliche Liebe, D177; An die Apfelbaume, D197; Seufzer, D198; Auf den Tod einer Nachtigall, D201; Der Liebende, D207; Adelwold und Emma, D211; Der Traum, D213; Die Laube, D214; Der Weiberfreund, D271; Labetrank der Liebe, D302; An die Geliebte, D303; Harfenspieler (I), D325
A truly excellent CD, somewhat against the odds. This was the first of the Schubert edition that I bought, and I recall the critics remarking, with some apparent surprise, what a marvelous disc it was. The theme is 1815, which is shared by other discs in the edition. It contains, amongst others, Adelwold und Emma, a ballad from Bertrand, which runs to 628 bars with about 40 8 line stanzas, and takes nearly 28 minutes, making it the longest Schubert song. This song has been roundly condemned by the experts (in his Schubert's Song Companion, John Reed refers to it as 'a sort of do-it-yourself opera'). Fischer-Dieskau and Moore did not record it. However, this recording shows that there is plenty of good stuff in it (as well as rather a lot which has no particular merit).