The Prince Consort: Alisdair Hogarth (piano), Anna Leese (soprano), Jennifer Johnston (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), Tim Mead (countertenor), Jacques Imbrailo (baritone) & Guest artists: Stephen Hough (piano), Philip Fowke (piano)
CD
$16.75
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The Prince Consort’s exciting and innovative new recording embraces two contrasting composers: Johannes Brahms and Stephen Hough including the premiere recording of the British pianist and composer Stephen Hough’s collection: ‘Other Love Songs’.
Commissioned by the Consort in 2009 to complement Brahms’ works, Hough’s songs are designed to explore other kinds of love. This is symbolised in the rather unique accompaniment of three hands, with Hough providing the third hand.
Brahms’ collection of love songs, ‘Liebeslieder Waltzen’, written for vocal quartet and piano duet (Alisdair Hogarth with Philip Fowke), depicts the love between a man and a woman – at first cheerful and lustful, then as the mood darkens, heartbreaking and obsessive. The Prince Consort’s debut recording received great critical acclaim; named ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone, ‘IRR Outstanding’ in International Record Review and BBC Music Magazine called it “an outstanding recording”.
‘The Prince Consort is rapidly establishing itself as one of the UK’s leading chamber ensembles renowned for its inspired and vibrant approach to repertoire and performance.
Stephen Hough, in addition to being a multi-award winning recording artist and concert pianist, is an avid composer and regularly contributes articles to the Guardian and Telegraph.
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Rede, Mädchen, Allzu Liebes
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Am Gesteine Rauscht Die Flut
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - O Die Frauen
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Wie Des Abends Schöne Röte
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Die Grüne Hopfenranke
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Ein Kleiner, Hübscher Vogel Nahm Den Flug
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Wohl Schön Bewandt War Es
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Wenn So Lind Dein Auge Mir
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Am Donaustrande, Da Steht Ein Haus
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - O Wie Sanft Die Quelle Sich
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Nein, Es Ist Nicht Auszukommen
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Schlosser Auf, Und Mache Schlösser
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Vögelein Durchrauscht Die Luft
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Sieh, Wie Ist Die Welle Klar
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Nachtigall, Sie Singt So Schön
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Ein Dunkeler Schacht Ist Liebe
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Nicht Wandle, Mein Licht, Dort Aussen
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Es Bebet Das Gesträuche
Other Love Songs - When I Have Passed
Other Love Songs - All Shall Be Well
Other Love Songs - The City's Love
Other Love Songs - Madam And Her Madam
Other Love Songs - Kashmiri Song
Other Love Songs - Because I Liked You
Other Love Songs - The Colour Of His Hair
Other Love Songs - Simon, Son Of John
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Verzicht, O Herz, Auf Rettung
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Finstere Schatten Der Nacht
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - An Jeder Hand Die Finger
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Ihr Schwarzen Augen
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Wahre, Wahre Deinen Sohn
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Rosen Steckt Mir An Die Mutter
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Vom Gebirge, Well Auf Well
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Weiche Gräser Im Revier
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Nagen Am Herzen
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Ich Kose Süss Mit Der Und Der
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Alles, Alles In Den Wind
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Schwarzer Wald, Dein Schatten Ist So Düster!
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Nein, Geliebter, Setze Dich
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Flammenauge, Dunkles Haar
Neue Liebeslieder Opus 65 - Zum Schluss
19th June 2011
“a performance of sparkle and precision, restoring muscularity to Brahms's charming part-songs...[Hough's song-cycle is] a touching companion to the Brahms...Hough celebrates other kinds of love, religious, gay and in the broadest sense fraternal. The piano writing, not surprisingly given Hough's day job, is original and beguiling, the performances first rate.”
23rd June 2011
***
“it was a bright idea of the group to ask Stephen Hough to compose a song cycle for the same lineup to separate the two helpings of Brahms, and perhaps to provide some palate-cleansing astringency...The sequence is perfectly judged, wittily allusive and serves its purpose perfectly. I suspect, in fact, that most who buy the disc will listen to Hough's songs more than the Brahms that flanks them.”
September 2011
****
“finely judged, delightfully youthful performances...Hough finds a language, a style, a startling response for the unique and elusive scent of each poem. There are solos and various pairings of voices, interwoven with often surprising and always thrilling piano writing.”
October 2011
*****
“Hogarth and his mightily talented vocal ensemble shape imaginative readings of each song in turn, introducing subtle tempo changes and vivid tonal contrasts to give rich life to their often dark-hearted texts and real soul to Brahms's music...The compelling emotional contrasts of this album may stem from its sage repertoire choice, but it's the top-drawer performances and sound recording that separate this outstanding release from the crowd.”
October 2011
“The performers, including Hough himself as one of the pianists, do [Other Love Songs] proud. Soprano Anna Leese, bright and vibrant of tone, rises poignantly to the impassionaed climax of 'Kashmiri Song', while mezzo Jennifer Johnson, singing in broad Scouse, offers a delightful comic cameo as the feisty maid in "Madam and her Madam"...A clinching factor here may well be the Hough songs, acerbically witty and deeply touching by turns.”
September 2011
“They are throughout crisp, fresh, speedy, intelligent, well recorded, with good German [in the Brahms], and I like the way in particular they create the occasional mini-drama, either by performing pairs of pieces seamlessly, or even by pitting male and female solos against each other...Hough is clearly possessed of both technique and vision as a composer.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
Liebeslieder Opus 52 - Rede, Mädchen, Allzu Liebes
