Schubert: Totengräbers Heimwehe D842 (Craigher)

The fifth exquisite Schubert Lieder recording for harmonia mundi from German baritone Matthias Goerne, a protégé of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. ‘Matthias Goerne is fast becoming the Fischer-Dieskau auf his generation, the standard-setting singer of the central lieder repertoire.’ (International Record Review). ‘In such repertoire Goerne’s mellow, darkly rounded timbre, expressive diction and care for a true, “bound” line are well nigh ideal.’ (Gramophone). ‘Even the lesser Schubert Lieder become gems from Goerne’s velvet baritone.’ (The Times).

Two musical titans in the classical world, British tenor Ian Bostridge and Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, both major EMI Classics artists, are brought together once again in a 2CD compilation celebrating their great contribution and commitment to Schubert for the label. As well as featuring specially selected lieder and piano fragments from their critically acclaimed Bostridge / Andsnes Schubert Sonata and Lieder series, the album also includes five newly recorded lieder never previously released by Bostridge. Their partnership was described by The Times as "one of the most inspired of record-company matchmakings: the two musicians really do test and try each other at every turn, as well as being mutually supportive…” Firmly established in the opera house, concert hall and recital room, and much sought after internationally as one of the finest of his generation of tenors, Ian Bostridge is today one of the leading Schubert lieder interpreters, repertoire that he openly states as his first love. Ian’s passion for lieder dates back to early studies at his school in England. Ian explains: ‘I had a wonderful German teacher at my school who got me into German lieder and that has been the thing that has really made me a musician – the lieder.’

The Swedish soprano Camilla Tilling here performs songs by Franz Schubert, accompanied by Paul Rivinius.

The disc includes some of Schubert's best-known songs, such as the carefree An Silvia, the serene Litanei, and the first Suleika song.

The programme features great changes in emotion: from the portrayals of the joy and despair of young love in Bei dir allein! and Lied des Florio, to the Gothic drama of Der Zwerg and the despondency of Totengräbers Heimweh.

As well as having a highly successful opera career, Camilla Tilling has made a name for herself in concert and in recital. Her previous recording for BIS – the Strauss recital Rote Rosen (BISSACD1709) – was met with great critical acclaim.

Schubert set the poetry of over 115 writers to music. He selected poems from classical Greece, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, from eighteenth-century German authors, early Romantics, Biedermeier poets, and Heine. The Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition presents all Schubert’s Lieder, over 700 songs, grouped according to the poets who inspired him. Thanks to Bärenreiter’s Neue Schubert-Ausgabe (New Schubert Edition), Tübingen, which uses primary sources, the performers have been able to benefit from the most recent research of the editorial team. This disc is the fourth part of the Romantic Poets series. Volumes One, Two and Three are available on 8554797, 8557831 and 8557832.