Search - Mendelssohn, Brahms, Schumann :: Songs & Duets

Lovely voices in lesser-known songs and duets.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 05/23/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mendelssohn is said to have preferred composing his "Songs Without Words" to composing, as it were, songs with words. Nevertheless, he set at least 80 poems to music. Ten of them are here, together with one composed by his sister Fanny. On this CD they are allotted to Judith Raskin and her accomplished accompanist George Schick. The same artists also present ten Mahler songs, recorded at the same sessions in June 1965. The other artists present duets by Brahms and Schumann, recorded in 1974.



These are lovely voices, and the accompaniments are perfectly audible. Most of the items are distinctly under-represented in the current CD market. In lieu of program notes and biographical material, the enclosed booklet provides full German/English texts. Provided you don't expect to hear masterpieces, to hear every word, or to be spell-bound, you'll enjoy this 77 minute recital."