Search - Johannes Brahms, Ludwig Tieck, Andreas Staier :: Brahms/Tieck: The Fair Magelone

The best possible case for a rarely performed work

janus_kreisler_sachs | the Midwest, USA | 06/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brahms composed his Magelone cycle for a baritone (Julius Stockhausen, a good friend of the composer), yet the tessitura is almost tenor-like in some of the songs. Christoph Pregardien is a tenor with a baritone-like boom in his voice (as well as all the required low notes), hence he is an ideal interpreter of this warmly romantic song-cycle, as is clearly demonstrated on this disc. He and fortepianist Andreas Staier encompass all the varied emotions of this cycle. Youthful impetuosness and ecstasy, pensive reflection, tenderness, warm contentedness, despair, confusion, doubt, and quiet joy are all projected with utmost vividness, flowing tempi, and great variety of articulation (helped by the fortepiano) and dynamics. The inclusion of Vanessa Redgrave as a narrator (what warmth her voice has!) helps to make sense out of these songs, which are (in essence) lyric reflections of a "missing" narrative (unlike Schubert's "Die schöne Müllerin" and "Winterreise" where the songs themselves tell the story). This is by far the best interpretation of this song-cycle I've encountered (surpassing even Peter Schreier's recording). Anyone interested in Brahms or Lieder (or both) should acquire this CD without delay!"