Renowned German baritone
Christian Gerhaher presents this CD of
Schumann songs with pianist
Gerold Huber.
Gerhaher's voice has power and fullness, even in a melancholy lied like Melancholie. Again, one can hear this core to his sound in the touching sadness of In der Fremde or even in Muttertraum where he intentionally chooses to hold back a little, as is appropriate, rendering the lied extremely tender. A gorgeous, delicate piano introduction paves the way for
Gerhaher to enter so softly and smoothly in Mondnacht, showing off his total control of the voice.
Gerold Huber is a fine musician who shapes and nuances his phrases and builds in intensity when needed (as in Schöne Fremde), an equal match for the baritone. When
Gerhaher becomes energized, his interpretations take on a deeper connection to the characters in the lieder. In der Fremde II shows a perfect energy with restraint, while his performance of Frühlingsnacht is impassioned and oh-so-
Schumann, complete with a throbbing piano.
Gerhaher's musicianship is strong, as one can hear in Wehmut (where he and the pianist maintain an excellent sense of rhythm). So is his ability to tell a story as he does in Der Soldat and Dichters Genesung, with its sense of mystery. The listener will rejoice to hear
Gerhaher sing out in Der Spielmann, especially in lines like "Er streichet die Geige" and "Es schwingen die Saiten."
Gerhaher's baritone has a nice color or timbre, fluid even when in a higher register, that occasionally becomes a touch murky when he pulls back from his brightness. With so much seeming perfection, one must ask if there are any elements not fully at work. The one general criticism would be a lack of consistency in the diction. Some of the end consonants of the words could be more strongly articulated (one can hear this need in songs like Waldesgespräch), and his choice of vowel modifications often lead to Us sounding more like Os, or words like "der" to sound like "dir." Yet there is much to admire here, and the result is most certainly positive.