Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte (To the distant beloved), Op. 98

Christian Gerhaher is the outstanding Lieder singer of our time. His recordings of the art songs and song cycles by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Mahler possess reference status, and have been awarded many major prizes. In the UK alone his awards include the 2009 BBC Music Magazine Award for Vocal Performance, a Gramophone award in 2006, and in 2011 he won the Olivier Outstanding Achievement in Opera award.

Gerhaher now presents his first ‘concept album’, which is at the same time his first album of songs by multiple composers in 10 years.

‘Ferne Geliebte’ (Distant Beloved) juxtaposes compositions from the two great Vienna schools, Viennese Classicism on the one hand, represented by Haydn and Beethoven, and the Second Viennese School with Schönberg and Berg on the other. The connection between them all is their preoccupation with loneliness, longing and hopeless love.

Christian Gerhaher is accompanied on the piano by his permanent duo partner Gerold Huber.

For this new recording on Capriccio mother and son unite. For more than fifteen years Renate Behle has been one of the world’s most outstanding interpreters of dramatic roles. With her “warm, sumptuous, full voice” whose “sound is etched in one’s memory” (Financial Times), she has thrilled audiences and critics alike on nearly every major opera stage in the world. Here she performs a recital of works by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Beethoven and Brahms amongst others, with her son Daniel, a tenor in great demand on the major opera and concert stages of the world.

Arias from the legendary Sunday concerts from 1966, 1972, 1988 and 1992.

His Papageno was historic and turned Hermann Prey into the most popular opera singer in Germany. This CD contains a collection of hitherto unpublished recordings made during the legendary Sunday Concerts with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester from 1966 to 1992. In a representative series of roles ranging from Bach to musicals, the great baritone shows us all his facets: from the sensitivity of the comic actor to the intense, inmost sincerity of the Lieder performer. At a time when the opera was still an integral part of Germany's media landscape, Hermann Prey made it impressively clear that a broad repertoire and depth of interpretation are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Prey ends this CD with a performance of “They say falling in love is wonderful”, inviting us to fall in love with his art yet again.

Wigmore Hall Live’s unrivalled reputation for capturing the world’s best song recitals is continued in its forthcoming October release from the distinguished lyric tenor, Matthew Polenzani.

Often referred to as one of the most gifted and distinguished lyric tenors of his generation, Matthew Polenzani has been praised for the artistic versatility and fresh lyricism that he brings to concert and operatic appearances on leading international stages. He has performed, among many others, opposite Renée Fleming, Anna Netrebko and Diana Damrau, and under the baton of Lorin Maazel, Pierre Boulez and Riccardo Muti. He will shortly be performing at Covent Garden in 'Don Giovanni'.

In this, his debut Wigmore Hall recital, Polenzani brings together the works of Hahn, Beethoven, Britten and Schubert, including 'An die ferne Geliebte' and the 'Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo', alongside leading piano-accompanist, Julius Drake.

Composed in April 1816, 'An die ferne Geliebte', opus 98, is Beethoven's only song cycle. Also appearing on the release are five examples of some of Schubert’s most-loved works, composed in the great age of song. Britten’s 'Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo' and are given added poignancy as they are said to represent a thinly-veiled expression of Britten’s affection for Peter Pears. Finally, the album features Hahn’s album of songs, 'Venezia: Chansons en dialecte vénitien'. Described by the composer as both “light and melancholy”, they received their premiere in Venice, 1901.

This is a specially priced 2CD portrait of the great German tenor, Peter Anders.

These recordings were made at the height of his career and have never been released before. Included are works by Wagner, Strauss, Beethoven, Schumann and Tchaikovsky.

Renowned British tenor James Gilchrist presents his second recording for Orchid Classics, “Schwanengesang” (Swan Song), Schubert’s final song cycle, coupled with Beethoven’s “An die ferne Geliebte” (To the Distant Beloved), widely considered to be the very first song cycle ever written.

Gilchrist is one of Britain’s most popular and sought after singers. This is the first time he has recorded Schwanengesang and it makes a wonderful and much awaited addition to his extensive discography. Gramophone advertising will support this release. Gilchrist has also recorded “Die Winterreise” for release in 2011.

The CD booklet contains full German texts with English translations, a personal note from James Gilchrist, and an essay by Richard Stokes giving fascinating insight into both Schwanengesang and An die ferne Geliebte.

“he is now unsurpassed amongst lyric tenors in sweetness and technical security, and for his musical intelligence” The Independent

Full texts and translations included.

Note in English and German

Beethoven's Lieder have not managed to achieve the same degree of popularity as his symphonies, concertos, sonatas and string quartets, and yet he wrote over 80 songs with an attention to texts and architecture that was subsequently to reach its apogee with Schubert, Schumann and Wolf.The 28 Lieder chosen by Barbara Hendricks represent range from the salon piece to the most poignant poems of Goethe, via the perfectly constructed cycle of An die ferne Geliebte, not forgetting the commissions of the Scottish publisher George Thomson. Future releases from Arte Verum will include Pergolesi's Stabat Mater & cantata Orfeo.