Strauss, R: Schlechtes Wetter, Op. 69 No. 5

Hyperion’s Strauss Lieder series continues to demonstrate that the composer’s achievements in this genre are among the most fascinating and accomplished of his works. This latest volume includes, for instance, the delicious Schlechtes Wetter from Op 69, and the lovely—and unknown—Waldesfahrt from the same group. The delicately beautiful Malven (never published in Strauss’s lifetime, and first performed by Kiri Te Kanawa in 1985), with which the recital ends, is known as Strauss’s ‘Fifth Last Song’.

The central work recorded here, Krämerspiegel, owes its genesis to Strauss’s long-lasting and bitter dispute with the German music publishing industry. A Berlin literary critic, Alfred Kerr, wrote him a witty set of satirical verses lampooning music publishers, mentioning many of Strauss’s principal enemies by name. Strauss set all twelve poems to music, and this practical joke finally saw the light of day in 1921. It is easy to understand why the cycle is now rarely performed, given that the texts consist entirely of in-jokes, and that the lion’s share of the music is given to the pianist. But Strauss’s music is well worth savouring, not least for its humorous references to Strauss’s own works, such as Der Rosenkavalier and Ein Heldenleben, and especially for the beautiful prelude to the eighth song and its reprise as the final extended postlude—used by the composer nearly a quarter of a century later, in his opera Capriccio.

Roger Vignoles is the curator and pianist of this series, and also writes the informative booklet notes. Making her Hyperion debut is soprano Elizabeth Watts, of whom The Guardian commented at a recent Strauss Lieder recital: ‘Watts, winner of the Lieder prize at Cardiff Singer of the World in 2007, is already a major artist, but this struck me as making a transformation into a great one, as well as allowing us to hear her in music she seems to have been born to sing. Watts has the right tonal glamour for Strauss along with that tricky combination of vocal ease and immaculate control that his work requires.’

"In 'Stimme der Sehnsucht,' a poem by Carl Busse, the voice of longing is depicted as a mysterious whispering sound, a dark and confused spirit from Thule, a mythical island beyond the boundaries of the world. Edgar Allan Poe’s poem 'Dream-land' portrays Thule as a surreal realm of melancholy and dread, while Rainer Maria Rilke wrote: ‘That is longing: living in turmoil and having no home in time'." Christianne Stotijn

Christianne Stotijn’s recital of Lieder by Pfitzner, Mahler and Strauss confronts powerful emotions – longing, loving, grief, and a desperate wish to turn the clock back to happier times. The collection is dominated by the theme of night, an exploration of dreams, restlessness and darkness.

This is a thoughtful and moving programme from one of the outstanding mezzos of our time. Christianne Stotijn’s previous recordings for ONYX have been praised and her song recital CD 'Tchaikovsky Romances' (ONYX4034) was awarded a BBC Music Magazine Award in 2010.

The name of Richard Strauss immediately conjures up thoughts of operas and large-scale symphonic works; but we tend to underestimate his lieder, a genre to which the composer devoted no fewer than 205 pieces! Like a glorious sunset culminating in the Four Last Songs, they mark the conclusion of the illustrious tradition of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and Mahler.

Thomas Blondelle, who finished second in the prestigious Concours Reine Elisabeth 2011, was chosen by the competition’s partner BNP Paribas Fortis to record a song recital and give concerts on tour throughout Belgium and elsewhere.

This young tenor has an exceptional vocal range. He is currently a soloist with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, but he also appears at many international venues. Recent engagements include his début as Froh in a new production of Wagner’s Das Rheingold at the Bavarian State Opera (February 2012). With the pianist Daniel Blumenthal – the ideal partner for any young singer – he presents a programme of humorous French and German art songs, some of which nevertheless have an underlying seriousness. This unusual, and witty, recital has been put together very intelligently!

This delightful recital of Strauss songs by Dame Felicity Lott focuses on songs composed between 1885 and 1901, the years of Strauss’s richest song-writing genius.

Partnered by her long-time collaborator, Graham Johnson, Dame Felicity sings various Nocturnes and Fantasies, songs about flowers, and then, grouped as “Valedictions and Lullabies”, some of Strauss’s best-known songs, including Allerseelen and Muttertändelei.

The disc concludes with one of his best-loved songs, ‘Morgen’. This is the last of the four Op.27 wedding-gift songs for his wife, Pauline de Ahna: “…breathless rapture turned into music, one of the great songs of the world…” [Michael Kennedy, 2003]

Dame Felicity Lott is considered one of the greatest sopranos of the 21st Century. Her operatic repertoire ranges from Handel to Stravinsky; and her formidable international reputation is as an interpreter of the great roles of Mozart and Strauss.

Graham Johnson is recognised as one of the world’s leading vocal accompanists. He was made an OBE in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours list and he was also made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in February 2010.

This is a unique recital of lieder by composers who were contemporaries of one another whose music is likely to appeal to the same music-lover. Alongside relatively familiar songs by Richard Strauss and Gabriel Fauré, from whence the CD takes its title, we are pleased to include rarely-heard examples from Reger, Pfitzner and Wolf-Ferrari. Sarah Maeder is a much-admired soprano who has made a special study of this repertoire, and she is excellently accompanied by the talented Gérard Wyss, to produce a recording that will be highly-prized by connoisseurs of this distinguished repertoire.

The legendary Elisabeth Schwarzkopf performs a recital of songs (recorded on 15th June) by Schubert, Wolf and Richard Strauss. The bonus is three songs by Mahler, performed with the Vienna Philharmonic, also recorded in 1960.