Ian Bostridge and Antonio Pappano are no stagers to the recording studio, having collaborated with Pappano either conducting or accompanying from the piano. As their performance of Schubert’s “Schwanengesang” has proven, the two can be a strong lieder duo, and so one approaches this release with high expectations.
Opening with one of the first significant song cycles, Bostridge and Pappano deliver a fine performance of “An die Ferne Geliebte” (Op. 98), thanks to Pappano’s tone quality and Bostridge’s breadth of musicality. All of the songs center around love but also encompass a close connection to nature; in the same light, the tenor creates a singular emotional rapport with the listener. This is evident from the first track, “Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend”: a man, looking from afar at the spot where he met his beloved, describes the pain of separation. Pappano’s playing reflects the serenity of the man’s surroundings; Bostridge’s voice, while gentle and reminiscent at times, is at others resonant and longing. This contrast is further heightened by his skillful subito dynamic changes in the latter part of the song.
In the compositionally interesting “Leichte Segler in den Höhen” (track 3), the narrator wishes for the brook and the birds to communicate with his love. Bostridge uses the key changes and his voice control to evoke two conflicting emotions: his excitement in connecting with his love interest and his agony in not being able to actually see her.
This performance of Op. 98 is fittingly comparable to an equally fine performance of this set by Matthias Goerne and Jan Lisiecki, released a few months back and reviewed on these pages. Compared to Goerne, Bostridge has a brighter timbre and is more outwardly expressive, with highly arched phrases. Goerne’s voice is rich and soothing, which brings a satisfying awareness of the work’s introspective aspect. Fans of this cycle will have difficulty decided between the two versions.
Related Classical Music Reviews
- Review: Beethoven – Songs – Matthias Goerne, Jan Lisiecki
- Review: Schumann – Dichterliebe – Julian Prégardien, Eric Le Sage
- Review: “FRAGE” – Gerhaher and Huber Perform Schumann Lieder
“Adelaide” Op. 46 (track 7), was composed almost 20 years earlier than Op. 98, in perhaps less harrowing times for Beethoven, but the song is no less emotionally intense. This is a striking song in many ways, one of which is the relatively high register; this consequently brings about a breathlessness in the singer which aptly conveys the feelings of excitement, hope, and passion for Adelaide. Bostridge has what I might call an enthusiastic interpretation; there are even some moments (1:35-1:40) where his voice trembles from the register and intensity of the phrasing, but this adds to the realism of the emotions. Pappano’s accompaniment has a lot of color to it, especially in the key changes; he also pays careful attention through his articulation to the work’s textural distinctions. These elements help give the song a dynamic narrative despite its considerable length.
Later we also have a selection of 8 folksongs, from Beethoven’s often overlooked 150 such arrangements. This is not pristine Beethoven, and the written down violin and cello, here played by Vilde Frang and Nicolas Altstaedt, sometimes sound like an afterthought. Yet the songs manage to show a surprising side of the composer. “The Pulse of an Irishman” (track 18) is no easy feat for the singer; Bostridge manages the short phrases and quick words with clear diction while catching the lilt of the folk rhythm. The best performance from this selection is the simple “The Parting Kiss” (track 21), delivered by all participants in touching nativity.
The sound engineering is clean, but there is a feeling that the vocalist is singing mere inches from the microphone. While this does not diminish the quality of the performance, a better-calibrated balance between voice and accompaniment would likely enhance it. This aside, the album is another solid one for Bostridge and Pappano.
Beethoven – “An die Ferne Geliebte”, Op. 98, Folksongs (selected)
Ian Bostridge – Tenor
Antonio Pappano – Piano
Warner Classics, CD 9029527643
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