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Lieder anyone?

This niche within classical music, largely leaves my cold a defect in my character I'm sure. I suppose it reached a sort of peak in 19th century Germany, becoming an important part of Schubert's output for example. 

But and it's a big but, there is Mahler and Richard Straus, two of my favourite 20th century composers anyway. They both produced achingly beautiful, melancholic song cycles and I never tire of listening to them. If you want to explore them, then anything by Janet Baker or Elizabeth Scwarzkopf are just perfect for Mahler and Leontine Price's 4 Last Songs for Strauss. You can't go wrong with them.

 

David

david12
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano
2,688 posts
 

I’m very frustrated when it comes to lieder.  They can be listened to for the beauty of the music, but that’s only half the picture.  A lied  is  comprised of  music AND words. It’s an artistic entity in which the words have to be a part. Since lieder by virtue of the name are in German, one must read the words in translation when listening. It takes some effort to do this which I’m not always willing to put in. 
So when I just listen to lieder I know I’m missing out on that vital union of words and music.  
The  music and singing by itself can be quite beautiful, but I always feel I’m missing out on the total experience.

 

jim5559
604 posts
 

Normal for a 1st class musician which rv is .

I have heard the same thing more or less from 20 Germans in one of the best orchestras in Germany .

I would think it be even worse for those doing solos.

Also, I agree that knowing the language really helps !

At one time I dreamt in German and most Germans thought I was a German .

Now , over a decade not speaking it and old age takes much away from me , esp.in Bach Cantatas . It hurts .

 

 

trentmemphis
282 posts
 

There's a recording of Beethoven lieder by Matthias Goerne on DG that I like quite a bit.

jim204
881 posts
 

I too can see Rvs' point of view and totally concur. I don't listen to much lieder or opera for precisely that point , I usually read the notes or synopsis first and then listen to it for the beauty of sound. It usually is a great bonus as in jim5559's case of a second language and luckily German so you can better understand what is going on. 

larryi
4,097 posts
 

I have about a dozen versions of Winterreise, and I listen mostly to Goerne because I like his performance and it is one that has been ripped to my server.  Strauss' Four Last Songs has so many great performances; I tend to listen mostly to Schwartzkopf and Janowitz.  My other often played lieder recordings is Mahlers Das Lied von der Erde with Brigitte Faesbaender.

There are some very good modern lieder composers that are worth looking into.  I think you could pick up any Eric Whitacre recording and find something you will like.

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