Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schubert: Schwanengesang, D. 960 (2012) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schubert: Schwanengesang, D. 960 (2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:50:44 minutes | 859 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © harmonia mundi

Matthias Goerne continues a Schubert survey that has already established him as one of the most fantastically gifted exponents of the song repertoire; Goerne does not ‘interpret’ Schubert, he lives each lied from the inside and invites the listener to share this poetic and musical intimacy without ever falling into the trap of overstatement. This sixth volume in the series also features an unforgettable performance of Schubert’s last piano sonata by one of the baritone’s favourite partners, Christoph Eschenbach. Offered on a free bonus CD, this ‘second swansong’ reveals hitherto unexplored resonances under his expert fingers.

The sixth volume in Matthias Goerne’s survey of Franz Schubert’s lieder includes the posthumous collection Schwanengesang, which contains some of the loveliest and most disturbing songs Schubert ever composed. One problem in performing this ambiguous work of Schubert’s last year lies in its alternation of sweet, lyrical songs with those of a much darker and even frightening character, and it’s left to the singer and the pianist to balance the moods and to make the contrasts of expression as subtle as possible. Goerne and his accompanist Christoph Eschenbach meet the challenge by carefully shading the songs with a tempering of expressions that admits sorrow in the midst of joy and hope in the depths of despair. On a bonus CD, Eschenbach performs Schubert’s expansive Sonata in B flat major, another late work that displays evanescent shifts of feelings, and he plays with a natural outpouring of emotion that fluidly connects the music’s high and low points. Harmonia Mundi offers warm and rich sound, which captures the resonance of Goerne’s baritone and the fullness and smoothness of Eschenbach’s sound, though the bass is a bit heavy in the recording of the sonata. –AllMusic Review by Blair Sanderson

“The distinctive mellow roundness of Goerne’s timbre, at once deep and soft-grained, and his care for a true, ‘bound’ legato are pleasures in themselves. He and the ever-fastidious Eschenbach invariably allow you to savour the sheer beauty of Schubert’s melodic lines.” –Gramophone

“Goerne is showing an increasing tendency to capitalise on what he does best, exploiting his superb breath control in singing of hushed and seamless legato … he is also able and willing to dare extremes of pacing and dynamics …” –BBC Music Magazine

“Goerne has his own ideas about the music and puts them forth with confidence and persuasion. That, in the end, is what sells this recording … a fine disc.” –Audiophile Audition

Tracklist:
01. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:I. Liebesbotschaft (03:22)
02. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:II. Kriegers Ahnung (04:40)
03. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:III. Frühlingssehnsucht (03:26)
04. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:IV. Ständchen (04:20)
05. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:V. Aufenthalt (03:02)
06. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Herbst, D.945:Herbst D.945 (04:08)
07. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:VI. In der Ferne (06:33)
08. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:VII. Abschied (04:27)
09. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:VIII. Der Atlas (02:06)
10. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:IX. Ihr Bild (03:47)
11. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:X. Das Fischermädchen (02:33)
12. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:XI. Die Stadt (03:07)
13. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:XII. Am Meer (05:01)
14. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:XIII. Der Doppelgänger (06:25)
15. Matthias Goerne, Christoph Eschenbach – Schwanengesang D.957:XIV. Die Taubenpost (04:23)
16. Christoph Eschenbach – Sonate pour piano en si bémol majeur, D. 960:I. Molto moderato (21:13)
17. Christoph Eschenbach – Sonate pour piano en si bémol majeur, D. 960:II. Andante sostenuto (13:24)
18. Christoph Eschenbach – Sonate pour piano en si bémol majeur, D. 960:III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace con delicatezza (04:52)
19. Christoph Eschenbach – Sonate pour piano en si bémol majeur, D. 960:IV. Allegro, ma non troppo (09:47)

Personnel:
Matthias Goerne, baritone (#1-15)
Christoph Eschenbach, piano

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