Search - Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Fanny Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann :: Erste Begegnung (First Encounter)

Disappointing

Peter Brawley | 10/24/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Angelika Kirchschlager's mezzo voice is very fine, but one can hardly tell from listening to these duets---she's drowned out by Barbara Bonney's big soprano voice, too-big vibrato, and too-frequent pitch difficulties (usually on the sharp side). It's a shame. Many of these songs are heard infrequently. But this is not the way to hear them. Perhaps Bonney plus a stronger mezzo voice would have been better. Personally I would have preferred Kirchschlager paired with a soprano who's on pitch and less closely miked."

Refreshing

Floria Tosca | New England, USA | 05/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I initially heard the track "Die Schwestern" on YouTube and had to have the CD. It doesn't disappoint. Barbara Bonney has a remarkable ability to blend and contrast her crisp soprano with any mezzo and has clearly developed a rapport with Angelika Kirchschlager. Cudos also to the pianist Malcolm Martineau whose accompaniment is witty without being either intrusive or ostentatious. An unusual collection of lieder performed by a fine, fine ensemble."