Admired by Liszt, who played and promoted his music, and spoken of with touching nostalgia by Thomas Mann, who in 1930 recalled the "slightly sweet flavour" of his music, Edouard Lassen (1830-1904) was quickly forgotten by history after having been the most-performed Lieder composer of his day. Unfortunately, his Jewish origin was a factor in undoing his reputation at a time when the brown plague was gradually spreading in Germany.
Born in Copenhagen to a well-to-do Jewish family, Edouard Lassen followed his parents to Brussels where his father had a business in "Supplies for tailors and military equipment”; a button and bladed weapons factory in reality. Musically gifted, he soon graduated from the Royal Conservatory before becoming a much sought-after conductor throughout Germany. He successfully conducted Wagner's operas in the presence of the composer, defying the latter’s notorious anti-Semitism.
Lassen's musical language skilfully blends the German and French cultures that were the two sources of his subtle inspiration. This dual influence is particularly noticeable in the programme presented here, which is so well conceived and, above all, so well sung by a most inspired Reinoud Van Mechelen. The Belgian singer presents a selection of Lieder in German and melodies in French, based on poems by Charles Cros and Victor Hugo. The "sweet flavour" evoked so fondly by Thomas Mann is tinged with a powerful nostalgia that is further enhanced by the smooth interpretation given by the tenor, assisted by the beautiful "great concert Steinway", which was built in New York in 1875 and is played here by Anthony Romaniuk with a nicely outdated, even slightly decadent style. Listeners will savour this work with a pleasant and rather old-fashioned sense of indulgence. © François Hudry/Qobuz