Image: ©️ Decca / Ray-Burmiston
On her self-titled album, Lise Davidsen opens with two highly vivid arias from Wagner’s “Tannhäuser”. One is immediately plunged into a sound-world of highly charged and evocative emotion, which Davidsen depicts with effortless ease. The first, “Dich, teure Halle brims”, is presented with boundless energy and vigor. In this first aria she demonstrates all the dramatic qualities and colors of her remarkable voice, but what is more exceptional here is the dexterity with which she can change the hues. This technically challenging aria is an impressive opener to a magnificent release.
In the second aria, “Allmächt’ge Jungfrau!”, Davidsen shows another, more lyrical aspect of her remarkable voice. Here she shapes phrases with a sense of architecture, drawing out long melodic lines expressively and expansively. In both arias, the woodwind players of the Philharmonia Orchestra produce sonorous richness which serves to enhance the luminosity of Davidsen’s sound.
The remainder of the album is dedicated to Richard Strauss. “Es gibt ein Reich” from “Ariadne Auf Naxos” (track 3) is a captivating aria, Davidsen taking the listener on a journey to view the afterlife, awarding us with an enchanting perspective to “Im Abendrot” which comes later in the album. Strauss’ Four Songs Op. 27 are presented at the heart of the program. The beauty and richness of Davidsen’s voice draw all the sentiment out of these songs. “Morgen!”, the most widely known of all the Strauss’ songs other than his final set, is given a remarkably crisp and visionary rendition. Davidsen’s tone takes on a very different shade, almost whispered at times, imperceptibly creating moments of peace.
A Gentle Sense of Motion
The famous “Four Last Songs” closes this album. There are charm and sincerity to Davidsen’s approach here, but it’s the final song which makes this set stand out from others in the catalog. She treats each of the four songs as an individual entity, giving each one a different tone, emphasizing the contrasting characters and meanings of the texts. “Im Abendrot” is taken slower than many famed interpretations, including Renée Fleming and Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, but not as expansive as Jesse Norman. The balance Davidsen strikes creates a gentle sense of motion with a level of transcendence. Salonen takes Davidsen’s lead and phrases the orchestral passages with the same level of naturalness, avoiding making the textures of Strauss’ orchestration sound too dense. The final bars have a tremendous sense of authority as the listener leaves this musical world for another.
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It is not often that musical chemistry comes together like this; The natural bond between conductor, singer and orchestra is one of the many highlights which makes this recording so special. Every phrase of every piece is carefully considered, shaped impeccably with an intense musical understanding of where the music is heading. Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra are the perfect accompanists to Davidsen; The conductor knows exactly how to control the orchestra, allowing it to come to the fore in their passages and to drop back when required, giving Davidsen ample opportunities to shine. Decca’s engineers have captured the sound with clarity and precision, allowing this exceptional music-making to be savored.
Davidsen has considered this program thoroughly, and the result is a convincing musical journey. The transitions between pieces are seamless as the soprano takes the listener from the earthly and grounded to the spiritual and celestial. She understands the heart and soul of this repertoire and is able to perform it with masterful command and authority, extraordinarily giving insight on the passage of time. For those who are new to Wagner or Strauss, this recording would be an excellent introduction to the music. It would also be a welcome addition to any established library. Highly recommended.
“Lise Davidsen” – Works by Strauss and Wagner
Lise Davidsen – Soprano
Philharmonia Orchestra
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Decca Classics, CD 4834883
Strauss’ 4 Last Songs – Recommended Alternatives
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