Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3

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Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3

Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Christiane Iven (soprano), Alastair Miles (bass), Werner Güra (tenor), Mojca Erdmann (soprano), Birgit Remmert (alto), Elisabeth von Magnus (alto) & Franz-Josef Selig (bass)

Netherlands Radio Choir, Netherlands Children's Choir & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra,...

…Harnoncourt…music, but he's in unusually fluent form here, with airy orchestral and choral textures… Christian Gerhaher is an intellectual, strong-toned Faust, relishing Goethe's robust language… — BBC Music Magazine, November 2009, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 5th Oct 2009
Catalogue No: RCO09001
Label: RCO Live
Length: 1 hour 57 minutes

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3

Work length1:57:48

Album only

Franz-Josef Selig (bass), Alastair Miles (bass), Christiane Iven (mezzo-soprano), Mojca Erdmann (soprano), Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Werner Güra (tenor), Elisabeth von Magnus (alto), Birgit Remmert (alto)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Choir, Netherlands Children's Choir
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Recorded: 18-21, 23-24 April 2008
Recording Venue: Concertgebouw Amsterdam

Ouverture

Track length8:17

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Part I: I. Szene im Garten (Faust, Gretchen, Mephistopheles, Marthe)

Track length5:07

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Part I: II. Gretchen vor dem Bild der Mater Dolorosa (Gretchen)

Track length4:40

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Part I: III. Szene im Dom (Boser Geist, Gretchen, Choir)

Track length7:14

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Part II: IV. Sonnenaufgang: Die ihr dies Haupt umschwebt im luft'gen Kreise (Ariel, Chorus, Faust)

Track length7:26

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Part II: IV. Sonnenaufgang: Taler grunen, Hugel schwellen (Chorus, Ariel)

Track length4:03

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Part II: IV. Sonnenaufgang: Des Lebens Pulse schlagen frisch-lebendig (Faust)

Track length4:08

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Part II: IV. Sonnenaufgang: So ist es also, wenn ein sehnend Hoffen (Faust)

Track length4:11

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Part II: V. Mitternacht: Ich heisse der Mangel (Mangel, Schuld, Not, Sorge, 4 Women)

Track length2:12

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Part II: V. Mitternacht: Vier sah ich kommen, drei nur gehn (Faust, Sorge)

Track length8:59

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Part II: V. Mitternacht: Die Nacht scheint tiefer tief hereinzudringen (Faust)

Track length2:34

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Part II: VI. Fausts Tod (Mephistopheles, Lemuren, Faust, Choir)

Track length13:57

Album only

Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Waldung, sie schwankt heran (Choir)

Track length3:34

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Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Ewiger Wonnebrand (Pater Ecstaticus)

Track length1:45

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Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Fussen (Pater Profundus, Pater Seraphicus, Selige Knaben)

Track length3:10

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Part III. VII. Fausts Verklarung: Welch ein Morgenwolkchen schwebet (Pater Seraphicus, Chorus, Selige Knaben)

Track length3:03

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Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Gerettet ist das edle Glied (Engel, Selige Knaben, Choir, Vollendeter Engel)

Track length6:32

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Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Gerettet ist das edle Glied (Engel)

Track length3:57

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Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Hier ist die Aussicht frei (Doctor Marianus)

Track length5:02

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Part III. VII. Fausts Verklarung: Dir, der Unberuhrbaren (Doctor Marianus, Choir, Magna Peccatrix, Mulier Samaritana, Maria Aegyptiaca, Una Poenitentium, Selige Knaben, Gretchen, Mater Gloriosa)

Track length9:01

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Part III: VII. Fausts Verklarung: Alles Vergangliche ist nur ein Gleichnis (Chorus Mysticus, SSATB)

Track length8:56

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About
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About

In April 2008 Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra executed a series of performances of Schumann's rarely heard masterpiece Szenen aus Goethes Faust.These successful performances were recorded live and edited into the release that you have before you. Nikolaus Harnoncourt made his debut with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1975, where his St John and St Matthew Passions opened a whole new chapter in the Amsterdam tradition of performing these works. With the RCO, he directed a number of impressive opera productions, including the Mozart operas by librettist Da Ponte and Strauss' Die Fledermaus, and a great number of symphonic concerts, including symphonies by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and Dvorák. Much of the repertoire Harnoncourt conducted with the Concertgebouw Orchestra has been recorded and has also received many awards. He was made a Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion in 2006. Nikolaus Harnoncourt was appointed honorary guest conductor in October 2000.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt on Schumann's Faust-Szenen:

"When I think of Schumann, I picture him at the café in Dresden where he would meet Wagner and Mendelssohn every week.They were about the same age, and all three were from Saxony. Luckily for Wagner's reputation, both the others died young; had they lived longer, simultaneously with Wagner, music history would have been very different indeed. I consider Schumann the greatest genius of the three - Wagner's genius was not primarily musical, but theatrical. One of the things that make Faust so incredible is Schumann's ability to select precisely those scenes from such a huge drama which illustrate that one aspect of redemption. In music, there are two or three famous sunrises - in The Creation and The Seasons by Haydn, and in Schumann's Faust-Szenen: Faust finds himself in a deep cavern. Day breaks, and Faust awakens to see how the sun shines upon the highest mountain tops. He himself still lies in darkness. Once the sunlight reaches him, he says, "So let the sun remain behind me!" because his eyes cannot bear the light. I think this sunrise with its oscillating changes of colour is one of the most beautiful moments in the history of music."

Artists

Netherlands Radio Choir, Netherlands Children's Choir & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt (honorary guest conductor)

Reviews

November 2009

…Harnoncourt…music, but he's in unusually fluent form here, with airy orchestral and choral textures… Christian Gerhaher is an intellectual, strong-toned Faust, relishing Goethe's robust language…

17th November 2009

Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s ravishing new account proves a lithe and lyrically rich labour of love...Adroitly blending discourse and drama, Harnoncourt marshals superbly characterised playing from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to frame no less striking contributions from his singers…

January 2010

What Harnoncourt does particularly superbly is steer away from the slightest hint of anything saccharine: the chorus of blessed boys being a case in point. He's aided by the outstanding Christian Gerhaher, who is moving not only as Faust but in the Dr Marianus music too. Franz-Josef Selig and Alastair Miles are also great assets... Harnoncourt's... never less than compelling, and his vision of this great work is consistently enlightening.

2nd October 2009

there are good performances from Alistair Miles, Werner Güra and Mojca Erdmann in smaller roles, as well as matchless orchestral playing from the Royal Concertgebouw. Harnoncourt's admiration for what is one of Schumann's greatest scores constantly shines through

Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3

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