Two distinguished soloists – soprano Suzanne Danco and tenor Robert Tear – contribute to this disc of Schubert songs. Both of the composer’s ‘obbligato’ songs (‘Der Hirt auf dem Felsen’ and ‘Auf dem Strom’) are included as are five of Schubert’s most popular Lieder in recordings by Danco previously unreleased on CD. But at the centre of this recital is a selection of Schubert’s Partsongs. Their origins lie in the vital demand for this kind of music in the context of the social life of Vienna during the composer’s lifetime. The male-voice quartet was a staple feature in the city’s concert halls but even more so in the homes of the cultured middle-classes. Much of Schubert’s writing for this medium is in an ‘unbuttoned’ mood, providing material for friendly gatherings. Even so, we find among these partsongs for men’s or mixed voices, many which carry the unmistakable stamp of his genius – the gorgeous ‘Ständchen’, or the tranquil, other-worldly ‘Nachthelle’.
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Gebet, D.815
Nachthelle, D.892
Gott in der Natur, D.757
Jünglingswonne, D.983
Ständchen, D.920
Gondelfahrer, D.809
Gott meine Zuversicht, D.706 (Psalm 23)
Gott in Ungewitter, D.985
Chor der Engel ‘Christ ist erstanden’, D.440
Elizabethan Singers
Viola Tunnard, piano
Louis Halsey
Auf dem Strom, D.943
Robert Tear, tenor
Neill Sanders, horn
Lamar Crowson, piano
Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D.965
Die Forelle, D.550
Gretchen am Spinnrade, D.118
Der Musensohn, D.764
Du bist die Ruh, D.776
Suzanne Danco, soprano
Gervase de Peyer, clarinet
Guido Agosti, piano
Recording Producers: Michael Bremner (Partsongs); James Mallinson (Auf dem Strom); D.M. Walker (Lieder)
Balance Engineers: Kenneth Wilkinson (Partsongs); Alec Rosner (Auf der Strom)
Recording Locations: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, UK, January 1956 (Lieder); Kingsway Hall, London, UK, October 1966 (Partsongs), April 1969 (Auf dem Strom)
‘This disc most delightfully extends the small number of Schubert’s part-songs that has been recorded and these beautifully sung performances, very well recorded, capture the intimate spirit of music written primarily for friendly gatherings … Robert Tear sings his part with lovely tone … A contralto solo part woven into ‘Ständchen’ is beautifully sung by Helen Watts … this lovely disc gave me intense pleasure’ (Partsongs) Gramophone
‘’Der Hirt auf dem Felsen’ is marvellously clean and instrumental in execution’ [Danco] Gramophone