CDs 31 - 37

Vol 31 - Franz Schubert and Religion, Christine Brewer, Holst Singers, Patricia Rozario, Lorna Anderson, Catherine Denley, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Paul Robinson. CDJ33031, Recorded July and September 1996; RM Score 9

Die Allmacht, D875a; Hagars Klage, D5; Dem Unendlichen, D291; Himmelsfunken, D651; Des Mädchens Klage, D6; Im Abendrot, D799; Die Gestirne, D444; Der 13. Psalm, D663; Der 23. Psalm, D706; Der 92. Psalm, D953; Mirjams Siegesgesang, D942

Quite a mixture on this one. Includes two very early songs, the long and episodic Hagars Klage, Schubert's earliest complete song that survives, and the first Schiller setting Des Mädchen's Klage. These are interesting merely because they are early. There are also several chorus works, including the well known setting of the 23rd Psalm, and the magnificent Mirjams Siegesgesang.

Vol 32 - An 1816 Schubertiad, Lynne Dawson, Christine Schäfer, Ann Murray, John Mark Ainsley, Daniel Norman, Christoph Prégardien, Michale Schade, Toby Spence, Christopher Maltman, Stephen Varcoe, The London Schubert Chorale and Others !. CDJ33032, Recorded at various times; RM Score 8

Des Mädchens Klage, D389; Licht und Liebe, D352; Beitrag zur fünfzigjährigen Jubelfeier des Herrn von Salieri, D407; Zum Punsche, D492; Ritter Toggenburg, D397; Vedi quanto adoro (Didone abbandonata), D510a; Naturgenuss, D422; An die Sonne, D439; Entzückung, D413; Das grosse Halleluja, D442; Grablied auf einen Soldated, D454; Schlachtgesang, D443; Das war ich, D174a/450a; Die verfehlte Stunde, D409; Zufriedenheit, D501; Der Entfernten, D331; Der Wanderer, D489/493; Gott im Ungewitter, D985; Gott der Weltschöpfer, D986

As Graham Johnson's notes remark, this disc marks the beginning of the end of the series. It (and others of the discs that follow) consists to some extent of 'sweepings' : tracks recorded much earlier, that did not find their way on to other discs, for whatever reason. The cast list is enormous, and this may lead to a lack of coherence to your ears.

Vol 33 - The Young Schubert 1810-1814, Marie McLaughlin, Ann Muray, Catherine Wyn-Rodgers, Philip Langridge, Daniel Norman, Adrian Thompson, Maarten Koningsberger, Stephen Varcoe and others. CDJ33033, Recorded at various times; RM Score 8

Lebenstraum (Gesang in c), D1a; Rien de la nature, DAnh II, 3/1; O combats, o désordre extrême!, DAnh II, 3/2; Lebenstraum, D39; Quell' innocente figlio (Aria dell' angelo), D17/1,2; Klagelied, D23; Entra l'uomo allor che nasce (Aria di Arrbramo), D33/1,2; Serbate o Dei custodi, D35; Misero pargoletto, D42/1b; Totengräberlied, D44; Dithyrambe, D47; Ombre amene, amiche piante (La Serenata), D990f; Pensa, che questo istante, D76; Son fra l'onde, D78; Trinklied, D75; L'incanto degli occhi, D990e; Geisternähe, D100; Die Befreier Europas in Paris, D104; Der Abend, D108; Die Nacht (no D number); Erinnerungen, D98; Ammenlied, D122; Viel tausend Sterne prangen, D642

Another rather miscellaneous collection, but it does include lots of rareties (only 2 of the songs are in the Peters edition). The rareties include a song fragment, D1a, in a completion by Reinhard van Hoorickx, with an almost impossible range, and another (Die Nacht from a poem by Karolina Pichler) that was discovered so recently that it does not yet have a D number.

Vol 34 - Schubert 1817 to 1821, Lorna Anderson, Lynne Dawson, Patricia Rozario, Marjana Lipovsek, Martyn Hill, Philip Langridge, Daniel Norman, Michael Schade, Gerald Finley, Matthias Goerne, Thomas Hampson, Simon Keenlyside, Stephan Loges, Christopher Maltman, Neal davies and others ! CDJ33034, Recorded at various times; RM Score 8

Der Alpenjäger, D524; La pastorella al prato, D513; Frohsinn, D520; Das Grab, D569; Die Einsiedelei, D563; Atys, D585; Das Dörfchen, D598; Der Kampf, D594; Die Geselligkeit (Lebenslust), D609; Sing-Übungen, D619; Das Abendrot, D627; Abend, D645; Das Mädchen, D652; Cantate zum Geburstag des Sängers Michael Vogl, D666; Prometheus, D674; Über allen Zauber Liebe, D682; Die gefangenen Sänger; Grenzen der menschheit, D716; Wandrers Nachtlied II

Vol 35 - Schubert 1822-25,. Lynne Dawson, Geraldine McGreevy, Philip Langridge, Thomas Hampson, Maarten Koningsberger, Christopher Maltman, Neal Davies and Others !. CDJ33035, Recorded at various times; RM Score 8

Gott in der Natur, D757; Schwestergruss, D762; Der zürnende Barde, D785; Pilgerweise, D789; Dass sie hier gewesen!, D775; Lachen und Weinen, D777; Greisengesang, D778, Du bist die Ruh', D776; Die Wallfahrt, D778a; Gondelfahrer, D809; Der Sieg, D805; Gebet (Du Urquell aller güte), D815; Lied eines Kriegers, D822; Totengräbers Heimwehe, D842; Bootgesang, D835; Coronach, D836; Lied des gefangenen Jägers, D843; Der Tanz, D826

Vol 36 - Schubert in 1827, Juliane banse, Michael Schade, Gerald Finley, Lynne Dawson. CDJ33036, Recorded at various times; RM Score 8

Romanze der Richard Löwenherz, D907; Jägers Liebeslied, D909; Schiffers Scheidelied, D910; Frühlingslied, D919; L'incanto degli occhi, D902 no 1; Il traditor deluso, D902 no 2; Il modo di prender moglie, D902 no 3; Wolke und Quelle, D896b; Fröhlisches Scheiden, D896; Sie in jedem Liede, D896a; Das Weinen, D926; Heimliches Lieben, D922; Die Sterne, D939; Der Wallensteiner Lanzknecht beim Trunk, D931; Der Kreuzzug, D932; Der Hochzeitsbraten, D930; Cantate zur Feier der Genesung der Irene Kiesewetter, D936

Vol 37 - Schubert - The Final Year, John Mark Ainsley, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Michael Schade. CDJ33037, Recorded March and June 1998 and September 1999; RM Score 8

Auf dem Strom, D943; Herbst, D945; Bei dir allein !, D866 no 2; Irdisches Glück, D866 no 4; Lebensmut, D937; Schwanengesang part 1: Liebesbotschaft, D957 no 1; Kriegers Ahnung, D957 no 2; Frühlingssehnsucht, D957 no 3; Ständchen, D957 no 4; Aufenthalt, D957 no 5; In der Ferne, D957 no 6; Abschied, D957 no 7; Glaube Hoffnung und Liebe, D955; Schwanengesang part 2 Der Atlas, D957 no 8; Ihr Bild, D957 no 9; Das Fischermädchen, D957 no 10; Die Stadt, D957 no 11; Am Meer, D957 no 12; Der Doppelgänger, D957 no 13; Die Taubenpost, D965a (ex D957 no 14)

Ultimately, I find this a slightly disappointing climax to the series. Certainly there are strong parts to this disc: includingn an excellent performance of Auf dem Strom, a pièce d'occasion which Schubert wrote for his concert in March 1828, with its haunting horn obbligato part. There is also half of a very fine Schwanengesang: John Mark Ainsley's beautiful voice being most suited to the Rellstab songs. Between the two halves of Schwanengesang we get the song (rather than part song) version of Glaube Hoffnung und Liebe, sung by all three tenors taking different sections. The Heine songs, however, are a disappointment. Anthony Rolfe Johnson's early disc (no 6) is one of the great highlights of the whole edition, and so once I knew he was to sing these songs, I looked forward to this disc with great anticipation. Unfortunately I find this performance unconvincing, lacking the depth and gravitas I expect to find in most of these songs (in Das Fischermädchen where that depth and gravitas is not such a requirement, his beautiful upper register makes the song the best of the set). This was, perhaps, one of the few occasions where Graham Johnson failed to fit the singer to the songs.