Search - Claude Debussy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, András Schiff :: Songs of Debussy and Mozart

Claude Debussy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, András Schiff
Songs of Debussy and Mozart
Genres: Pop, Classical

Track Listings (22) - Disc #1
1. Beau Soir
2. Clair De Lune
3. Pierot
4. Apparition
5. Pantomimie
6. En Sourdine
7. Fantoches
8. Clair De Lune
9. Dans Un Bois Solitaire KV 308 (295b)
10. Oiseaux, Si Tous Les Ans KV 307 (284d)
11. Warnung KV 433 (KV 416c)
12. Der Zauberer KV 472
13. Das Veilechen KV 476
14. C'est L'Extase Langoureuse
15. Il Pleure Dans Mon Coeur
16. L'Ombre Des Arbes
17. Chevaux De Bois
18. Green
19. Spleen
20. Sehnsucht Nach Dem Fruhlinge KV 596
21. Als Luise Die Briefe Ihes Untreuen Liebhabers Verbrannte KV 520
22. Abendempfindung KV 523

CD Details

All Artists: Claude Debussy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, András Schiff, Juliane Banse
Title: Songs of Debussy and Mozart
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Ecm Import
Release Date: 4/29/2003
Album Type: Import
Genres: Pop, Classical
Styles: Vocal Pop, Opera & Classical Vocal
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 028946189924

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Debussy and Mozart seem a strange pairing, but this program works thanks to the high quality of the music itself and the perceptive interpretations of Juliane Banse and her partner, Andras Schiff?"accompanist" doesn?t begin to describe Schiff?s important role here. Banse?s beautiful lyric soprano, technically secure, expressive, and warm, is the perfect instrument for these songs. It captivates immediately in Debussy?s early songs which begin the disc, including a ravishing "Claire de lune." Schiff shines as well, as heard in his pellucid pianism in "Fantoches" and in the countless details too often lost in other performances of both composers? songs. The pair are best in the Mozart selections, where Banse?s German diction is clearer. The duo exude a sense of fun in "Das Veilchen" and are outstanding in the songs that require emotional depth, such as the late "Abendempfindung." Transparent engineering, but the lavish packaging doesn?t include texts and translations, available only at ECM?s website. ? Dan Davis

CD Reviews

Excellent musicianship, great sound quality

Eugene Koh | Torrance, CA United States | 03/30/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had never heard of Juliane Banse, nor had I ever heard a single song by Debussy. However, I am familiar with Schiff and Mozart, so I figured I could get exposed to something new without taking too much of a risk that the CD would be a total loss.

I was not disappointed. Banse's singing is lyrical, not too heavy, but not overly floofy either. Her voice had just a hint of the tragic to give Mozart's songs a proper emotional balance. The Debussy songs were also beautiful and beautifully sung.

ECM has also done a great job with the engineering. The sound quality is lively and intimate, full and balanced. I tend to like Philips and EMI labels for their sound on classical recordings, with Philips having a fuller sound and EMI a more lively sound. ECM seems to have the best of both worlds.

My only complaint is that the Debussy songs are not all grouped together on the CD. So you get some Debussy to start, then some Mozart, then back to Debussy, and finish with Mozart. Maybe it's to give it a more recital-ish feel, I don't know. Anyway, highly recommended."

These songs need more than pure tone

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/05/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The main impression that Juliane Banse makes here is through the purity of her light lyric soprano. With a background in Baroque music, where unfortunately a lack of personality isn't a detriment, she seems bland and unstylish in both Debussy and more surprisingly for a German speaker, in Mozart. Schiff does his best, particularly in the Debussy set, to enter the composer's special sound world, but the singer swans along making lovely sounds without much attention to the meaning or emotion the words are trying to convey.

Contrary to the enthusiastic Amazon reviewer, who hears a range of moods from carefree to serious in 'Veilchen' and 'Abendempfundung,' these two miniature masterpieces by Mozart sound exactly the same to me as sung by Banse. A great Mozart interpreter like Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, in her classic recording with Walter Gieseking (EMI), has nothing to fear. I'd recommend this CD mainly to listeners who want to relax in the beauty of a voice that isn't going anywhere with the words."