Notes and Editorial Reviews
Practically anything Fischer-Dieskau recorded in those days is worth having and those who have yet to discover the Lieder-composers Mendelssohn and Loewe should jump at this opportunity.
Neither Mendelssohn nor Loewe find themselves in the First Division in the Lieder Composers’ League but they are certainly there at the top of the second division. There they rub shoulders with Liszt, Robert Franz and Joseph Marx and possibly Othmar Schoeck, although the latter two are firmly 20th century composers.
Mendelssohn’s songs are attractive and well wrought but rather limited in scope compared to Schubert’s and Schumann’s and when did you last hear a Mendelssohn recital or even a group of his songs – apart of
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course from Auf Flügeln des Gesanges? Recordings are few and far between. Rummaging through my shelves I found a disc from 1992 with Barbara Bonney and Geoffrey Parsons, but that was it. Loewe is another matter. Not that he is a frequent presence on recital programmes - the last time I can remember was Hermann Prey more than ten years ago. That said, he seems to sell well on record. Prey, Fischer-Dieskau, Kurt Moll and Brigitte Fassbaender all had Loewe recitals represented in an old Gramophone Catalogue from 1990. Further back Josef Greindl set down an all-Loewe album for DG. CPO are busy recording his complete songs, having currently reached volume 21.
The 41 songs by Mendelssohn on this set were originally issued on two LPs; probably the most comprehensive survey so far. Barbara Bonney sings a number of these songs but also some that F-D didn’t record. To complicate things further some songs by Fanny Mendelssohn were published under her brother’s name but I think this has now been sorted out.
Backed by the ever-responsive Wolfgang Sawallisch, Fischer-Dieskau’s traversal is highly attractive. As was his wont, he lavishes all his vocal and textual skill on the material. It might be argued that he sometimes tries to wring more from these songs than is good for them – a criticism that was now and then directed towards him. Even so, he totally avoids blandness. And the lighter songs – and there are many of them – are treated with great care and sensitivity.
For those who have opportunities to listen before buying I can point to some attractive test tracks. The light and bouncy Neue Liebe (CD1 tr. 1) with its nervous piano part is a perfect illustration of the heart-beating fast when love is new. The ubiquitous Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (CD1 tr. 3) has been inflated, sentimentalized and distorted so many times through the years that it is a relief to hear it sung naturally and with beauty. Allnächtlich im Traume (CD1 tr. 6) is agitated and dramatic, quite different from Schumann’s better known setting in Dichterliebe. The Volkslied (CD1 tr. 20) is simple and winsome. F-D keeps it that way but in the last stanza with darker undertone there is more emphasis in the singing. The jolly Jagdlied (CD1 tr. 29) to a text from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, is sparkling and Venezianisches Gondellied (CD2 tr. 1), a song that is actually heard now and then, rocks gently. The most atypical song here is Andres Maienlied a.k.a. Hexenlied. I wonder how many listeners in a blindfold test would connect Mendelssohn with this dark, dramatic and threatening music. Schubert in Atlas mood or maybe Loewe … but well behaved Mendelssohn? This song gives F-D golden opportunities to explore the dark side of existence.
I wonder how often Fischer-Dieskau returned to this repertoire. That he was an avid Loewe champion is beyond doubt. On his very first 78 rpm record, for Electrola in 1949, he sang Tom der Reimer. Almost twenty years later he recorded the present collection with Gerald Moore. Just a few years later he set down two LPs with Jörg Demus for DG. In the early 1980s he re-recorded all nine ballads from the present issue plus another two, again with Demus. Finally in the late 1980s he made a disc for Teldec with Hartmut Höll. There he included songs which appeared to be new to his repertoire. I have all these recordings and wouldn’t be willing to part with any of them, so full of insight and so well executed are they. In case of a deportation to that proverbial “Desert Island” – fully equipped with CD-players, amplifiers and of course electricity – I would probably opt for this disc with Moore, where vocally he is at the height of his powers.
It is easy to be a little condescending towards Loewe. His melodic invention can be banal, his accompaniments verging on what could be heard in perfumed Victorian parlours. More often than not though his ballads are engaging, dramatic and flexibly composed to be in fine accord with the texts. Erlkönig, his best-known ballad, is in no way inferior to Schubert’s, Der Schatzgräber. Kleiner Haushalt is virtuously elegant and Süsses Begräbnis is a song of great beauty. Herr Oluf is a variant on the Erlkönig theme and the end is just as predictable. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is just cut out for songs like these where he can make use of his vocal resources to maximum effect. Gerald Moore as usual never puts a foot – or rather a finger – wrong.
There are full texts and translations and an illuminating essay by Richard Wigmore. There are also some photos of Fischer-Dieskau from the good old days. Practically anything he recorded in those days is worth having and those who have yet to discover the Lieder-composers Mendelssohn and Loewe should jump at this opportunity.
-- Göran Forsling, MusicWeb International
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Works on This Recording
1.
Songs (6), Op. 19a: no 4, Neue Liebe by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1833; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 48 Secs.
2.
Songs (6), Op. 19a: no 5, Gruss by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano),
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone)
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1833; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 32 Secs.
3.
Songs (6), Op. 34: no 2, Auf Flügeln des Gesanges by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano),
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1836; Germany
Length: 3 Minutes 23 Secs.
4.
Songs (6), Op. 34: no 6, Reiselied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano),
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1836; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 32 Secs.
5.
Songs (6), Op. 47: no 2, Morgengruss by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: ?1840; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 1 Secs.
6.
Songs (6), Op. 86: no 4, Allnächtlich im Traume by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano),
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone)
Period: Romantic
Written: Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 23 Secs.
7.
Songs (6), Op. 47: no 3, Frühlingslied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1839; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 56 Secs.
8.
Songs (6), Op. 71: no 3, An die Entfernte by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1847; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 23 Secs.
9.
Songs (6), Op. 71: no 4, Schilflied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1842; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 57 Secs.
10.
Songs (6), Op. 71: no 5, Auf der Wanderschaft by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1847; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 11 Secs.
11.
Songs (6), Op. 47: no 1, Minnelied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: ?1840; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 3 Secs.
12.
Songs (6), Op. 19a: no 1, Frühlingslied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 26 Secs.
13.
Songs (6), Op. 19a: no 2, Das erste Veilchen by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano),
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 27 Secs.
14.
Songs (6), Op. 19a: no 6, Reiselied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 51 Secs.
15.
Songs (6), Op. 19a: no 3, Winterlied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1833; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 44 Secs.
16.
Songs (6), Op. 34: no 1, Minnelied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1834; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 44 Secs.
17.
Songs (6), Op. 57: no 4, O Jugend by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano),
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1841; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 8 Secs.
18.
Songs (3), Op. 84: no 1, Da lieg' ich unter den Bäumen by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1831; Germany
Length: 4 Minutes 0 Secs.
19.
Songs (12), Op. 8: no 4, Erntelied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: circa 1828; Germany
Length: 4 Minutes 43 Secs.
20.
Songs (6), Op. 47: no 4, Volkslied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1839; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 55 Secs.
21.
Songs (6), Op. 57: no 6, Wanderlied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1841; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 51 Secs.
22.
Songs (6), Op. 71: no 6, Nachtlied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1847; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 55 Secs.
23.
Songs (2) for Voice and Piano (Eichendorff): no 1, Das Waldschloss by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 08/17/1835
Length: 2 Minutes 3 Secs.
24.
Songs (2) for Voice and Piano (Eichendorff): no 2, Pagenlied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1832
Length: 1 Minutes 55 Secs.
25.
Songs (6), Op. 34: no 3, Frühlingslied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1832; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 0 Secs.
26.
Songs (6), Op. 47: no 6, Bei der Wiege by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1833; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 46 Secs.
27.
Songs (6), Op. 86: no 1, Es lauschte das Laub by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1826; Germany
Length: 3 Minutes 11 Secs.
28.
Songs (6), Op. 71: no 1, Tröstung by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 42 Secs.
29.
Songs (3), Op. 84: no 3, Jagdlied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1834; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 58 Secs.
30.
Songs (6), Op. 99: no 5, Wenn sich zwei Herzen scheiden by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 50 Secs.
31.
Songs (6), Op. 86: no 5, Der Mond by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 57 Secs.
32.
Songs (6), Op. 57: no 5, Venetianisch Gondellied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1842; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 26 Secs.
33.
Blumenkranz by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Length: 2 Minutes 16 Secs.
34.
Songs (6), Op. 99: no 1, Erster Verlust by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1841; Germany
Length: 3 Minutes 21 Secs.
35.
Songs (12), Op. 8: no 8, Andres Maienlied "Hexenlied" by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: circa 1828; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 18 Secs.
36.
Warnung vor dem Rhein by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1840; Berlin, Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 47 Secs.
37.
Songs (6), Op. 57: no 1, Altdeutsches Lied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1839; Germany
Length: 1 Minutes 26 Secs.
38.
Songs (6), Op. 57: no 2, Hirtenlied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1839; Germany
Length: 3 Minutes 6 Secs.
39.
Schlafloser Augen Leuchte by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Length: 2 Minutes 36 Secs.
40.
Songs (12), Op. 9: no 6, Scheidlied by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Wolfgang Sawallisch (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830; Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 10 Secs.
41.
Ballads (3), Op. 1: no 1, Edward by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Length: 5 Minutes 57 Secs.
42.
Ballads (3), Op. 97: no 3, Der Mohrenfürst auf der Messe by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1844; Germany
Length: 4 Minutes 30 Secs.
43.
Ballads (3), Op. 1: no 3, Erlkönig by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1824; Germany
Length: 3 Minutes 16 Secs.
44.
Archibald Douglas, Op. 128 by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Gerald Moore (Piano),
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1857; Germany
Length: 10 Minutes 18 Secs.
45.
Ballads (3), Op. 59: no 3, Der Schatzgräber by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Length: 5 Minutes 54 Secs.
46.
Tom der Reimer, Op. 135a by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: circa 1860; Germany
Length: 5 Minutes 52 Secs.
47.
Kleiner Haushalt, Op. 71 by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1838; Germany
Length: 3 Minutes 54 Secs.
48.
Gedichte (12), Op. 62: no 4, Süsses begräbnis by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1837; Germany
Length: 3 Minutes 6 Secs.
49.
Ballads (3), Op. 2: no 2, Herr Oluf by Carl Loewe
Performer:
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1821; Germany
Length: 5 Minutes 32 Secs.
Sound Samples
Neue Liebe Op.19a Nr.4 (In dem Mondenschein im Walde) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Gruß Op.19a Nr.5 (Leise zieht durch mein Gemüth) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Auf Flügeln des Gesanges Op.34 Nr.2 (2007 Digital Remaster)
Reiselied Op.34 Nr.6 (Der Herbstwind rüttelt die Bäume) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Morgengruß Op.47 Nr.2 (Über die Berge steigt schon die Sonne) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Allnächtlich im Traume seh' ich dich Op.86 Nr.4 (2007 Digital Remaster)
Frühlingslied Op.47 Nr.3 (Durch den Wald. den dunkeln) (2007 Digital Remaster)
An die Entfernte Op.71 Nr.3 (Diese Rose pflück' ich hier) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Schilflied Op.71 Nr.4 (Auf dem Teich. dem regungslosen) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Auf der Wanderschaft Op.71 Nr.5 (Ich wandre fort ins ferne Land) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Minnelied Op.47 Nr.1 (Wie der Quell so lieblich klinget) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Frühlingslied Op.19a Nr.1 (In dem Walde süße Töne) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Das erste Veilchen Op.19a Nr.2 (Als ich das erste Veilchen erblickt) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Reiselied Op.19a Nr.6 (Bringet des treu'sten Herzens Grüße) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Winterlied Op.19a Nr.3 (Mein Sohn. wo willst du hin so spät?) (Schwedisches Volkslied) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Minnelied Op.34 Nr.1 (Leucht't heller als die Sonne) (aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn") (2007 Digital Remaster)
O Jugend, o schöne Rosenzeit Op.57 Nr.4 (Von allen schönen Kindern auf der Welt) (Zuucalmaglio/Rheinisches Volkslied) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Da lieg' ich unter den Bäumen Op.84 Nr.1 (Dichter unbekannt) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Erntelied Op.8 Nr.4 (Es ist ein Schnitter. der heißt Tod) (Altes Kirchenlied) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Volkslied Op.47 Nr.4 (Es ist bestimmt in Gottes Rath) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Wanderlied Op.57 Nr.6 (Laue Luft kommt blau geflossen) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Nachtlied Op.71 Nr.6 (Vergangen ist der lichte Tag) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Das Waldschloß (ohne Opuszahl) (Wo noch kein Wand'rer gegangen) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Pagenlied (ohne Opuszahl) (Wenn die Sonne lieblich schiene) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Frühlingslied Op.34 Nr.3 (Es brechen im schallenden Reigen) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Bei der Wiege Op.47 Nr.6 (Schlummre und träume von kommender Zeit) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Es lauschte das Laub Op.86 Nr.1 (Es lauschte das Laub so dunkelgrün) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Tröstung Op.71 Nr.1 (Werde heiter. mein Gemüthe) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Jagdlied Op.84 Nr.3 (Mit Lust thät ich ausreiten) (aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn") (2007 Digital Remaster)
Wenn sich zwei Herzen scheiden Op.99 Nr.5 (2007 Digital Remaster)
Der Mond Op.86 Nr.5 (Mein Herz ist wie die dunkle Nacht) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Venezianishces Gondellied Op.57 Nr.5 (Wenn durch die Piazzetta) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Der Blumenkranz (ohne Opuszahl) (An Celias Baum in stiller Nacht) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Erster Verlust Op.99 Nr.1 (Ach. wer bringt die schönen Tage) (2007 Digital Remaster)
And'res Maienlied (Hexenlied) Op.8 Nr.8 (Die Schwalbe fliegt, der Frühling siegt) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Warnung vor dem Rhein (ohne Opuszahl) (An den Rhein, an den Rhein) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Altdeutsches Lied Op.57 Nr.1 (Es ist in den Wald gesungen) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Hirtenlied Op.57 Nr.2 (O Winter, schlimmer Winter) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Schlafloser Augen Leuchte (ohne Opuszahl) (Schlafloser Augen Leuchte, trüber Stern) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Scheidend Op.9 Nr.6 (Wie so gelinde die Fluth bewegt!) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Edward, Op.1 No.1 (trans. Herder) (2007 Digital Remaster)
3 Balladen Op. 97 (2007 Digital Remaster): No. 3, Der Mohrenfürst auf der Messe
Erlkönig, Op.1 No.3 (Goethe) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Archibald Douglas Op. 128 (Fontane) (2007 Digital Remaster)
3 Balladen Op. 59 (2007 Digital Remaster): No. 3, Der Schatzgräber
Tom der Reimer, Op.135 (Old Scottish Ball) (2007 Digital Remaster)
Kleiner Haushalt Op. 71 (2007 Digital Remaster)
12 Gedichte Op. 62 (2007 Digital Remaster): No. 4, Süsses Begräbnis
3 Balladen Op. 2: No. 2, Herr Oluf (wds. Danish, trans Herder)
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