Search - Stephan Genz, Gustav Mahler, Roger Vignoles :: Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn

Gorgeous volume II

Pater Ecstaticus | Norway | 01/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This excellent album makes volume II of recordings of Mahler's works for singer and piano and continues the gorgeous singing and piano playing that characterized the earlier recording by these two great artists (Mahler: Songs). This album with songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn may not be as broad in its range of sentiments and compositional styles as the earlier album (with the boistrous, heart-on-sleeve Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, the fantastical or fairy tale-like Lieder und Gesaenge, the lyrical Rueckert-Lieder and the rarified but deep emotion of the Kindertotenlieder), but as such, and certainly as performed here, these songs are real, totally convincing 'worlds' unto themselves.

Stephan Genz singing is as lavishly full-throated but at the same time stylishly articulated and sensitive to the meaning of the text as usual (it does help that his mother tongue is German, I would think). His voice ranges all the way from the grandly operatic to the finely lyrical easily and convincingly, often within the space of a bar - ranging the whole spectrum of human emotions between songs and also in the songs themselves.

Roger Vignoles again makes the most of his instrument, crystal clear and subtle in his phrasing, creating a sound that is both utterly melodious and mellifluous, with so much tasteful legato and rubato - how absolutely gorgeous! I really love the way in which he seems to really 'caress' the keys of the piano (without ever becoming 'sticky'). Again I would like to repeat what I have said earlier, namely that Roger Vignoles in his playing evokes so many shades and colors from the notes - all savoring them to the full, making for a full-bodied, luxurious sound - that I for one really don't miss any of the instrumentation of the orchestral versions which we have gotten used to.

For lovers of Mahler's music, and especially of Mahler's music for voice and piano, this album is not to be missed. Highly recommended."