Name: Schubert: Schöne Müllerin (Die) by Elja Puukko
Brand: Elja Puukko
SKU: 6417513101935
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (140 reviews)

ALBUM

As the saying goes, the world doesn't need more lawyers: it only needs more good lawyers. The same could be said for recordings of classic works like Schubert's Die Schöne Müllerin, and the world can probably do without Elja Puukko's Die Schöne Müllerin. Sloppy, error-ridden, and expressively impotent, it shows the young Finnish baritone to have little regard for the German language, the exactness of Schubert's written texts, or the basics of singing; if anything it obscures the greatness of one of the pillar works of the nineteenth century. Puukko's basic vocal gifts are decent, if not special in any way. There is a rough-hewn resonance to certain parts of his range that indicates a fine, if inexpertly deployed, instrument. But he struggles noticeably with the top of his voice, making the usually exultant exclamations of "Mein!" sound more like muffled exertion; and the bottom of his voice is weak, making Schubert's occasional excursions into the lower ranges very unsatisfying. More importantly, Puukko's grasp of German is poor. Listeners with even a passing familiarity with it will notice errors of pronunciation littered throughout every song, sometimes resulting in changed grammatical expressions or pure nonsense, for instance when the word "denn" (prounounced "den" and meaning "then") is substituted for "den" (prounounced "day-n" -- an article). Nitpicky? Not at all. Lieder is all about language, and the melding of language with music in an intimate, expressive way. That can't happen when the basics of the language itself are insecure. Plus, Puukko is equally cavalier with rhythm, changing dotted rhythms to straight and vice versa, lengthening or shortening pickup notes, and adding pauses between verses of strophic songs where none are indicated. Again, these are not expressive choices, or aspects of "style." This is not bothering to learn music accurately. Pianist Risto Lauriala holds up his end of the bargain much more capably, and he very well may be an accomplished collaborative pianist. But until he hitches his wagon to a better horse, we may never know. The package includes texts and translations.

Schubert: Schöne Müllerin (Die)

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1. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 1. Das Wandern

2. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 2. Wohin?

3. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 3. Halt!

4. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 4. Danksagung an den Bach

5. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 5. Am Feierabend

6. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 6. Der Neugierige

7. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 7. Ungelduld

8. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 8. Morgengruß

9. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 9. Des Müllers Blumen

10. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 10. Tränenregen

11. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 11. Mein!

12. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 12. Pause

13. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 13. Mit dem grunen Lautenbande

14. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 14. Der Jäger

15. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 15. Eifersucht und Stolz

16. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 16. Die liebe Farbe

17. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 17. Die böse Farbe

18. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 18. Trockne Blumen

19. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 19. Der Müller und der Bach

20. Die Schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: 20. Des Baches Wiegenlied

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