FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847)

 

Songs and Duets Volume 4

 

1. Frühlingsglaube Op. 9 No. 8 Katherine Broderick

2. Der Verlassene ‘Rauch’ manuscript Stephan Loges

3. Seltsam, Mutter, geht es mir ‘Rauch’ manuscript Anna Grevelius

4. Der Wasserfall ‘Rauch’ manuscript Katherine Broderick

5. Glosse Anna Grevelius

Vier Lieder Finnur Bjarnason

6. Der Tag

7. Reiterlied

8. Abschied

9. Der Bettler

10. Am Seegestad’, in lauen Vollmondsnächten Stephan Loges

11. Durch Fichten am Hügel Hannah Morrison

12. Ich denke dein, wenn durch den Hain Stephan Loges

13. Tanzt dem schönen Mai entgegen Anna Grevelius

14. Faunenklage Anna Grevelius

15. Im Grünen Op. 8 No. 11 Katherine Broderick

16. Reiselied fragment, completed by Eugene Asti Stephan Loges

17. Abschied Stephan Loges

18. Hüt du dich Hannah Morrison

19. Die Nachtigall Hannah Morrison

20. Gruss Finnur Bjarnason

21. Warum sind denn die Rosen so blass? fragment, completed by Eugene Asti Katherine Broderick

22. Rausche leise, grünes Dach Katherine Broderick

23. Erinnerung Hannah Morrison

24. Maienlied Op. 8 No. 7 Finnur Bjarnason

25. Andres Maienlied ‘Hexenlied’ Op. 8 No. 8 Katherine Broderick

 

Katherine Broderick - soprano

Hannah Morrison - soprano

Anna Grevelius - mezzo-soprano

Finnur Bjarnason - tenor

Stephan Loges - baritone

Eugene Asti – piano

 

Mendelssohn seems to have finally hit the big league in this bicentenary year of his birth. Critical reappraisals of his music have confirmed this somewhat elusive composer as an important Romantic figure, and probably the greatest child prodigy of all time. Hyperion’s contribution to the composer’s rehabilitation includes the acclaimed series of Songs and Duets, now reaching Volume 4.

 

It is remarkable to realize that compositions by a major composer in the Western canon could go unpublished and unheard for more than 150 years, but that was the sad situation with Mendelssohn - until recently. The pianist Eugene Asti has gathered together 46 previously unknown songs from various stages of this composer’s sadly truncated life. Through much of the previous century, his songs were often judged against the example of Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms and found wanting, but Mendelssohn’s aesthetic of song was very different from those of his contemporaries. What the newly published works reveal is a willingness to experiment with novel song forms and highly expressive harmonies, some of which go beyond the graceful and vocally grateful melodies, limpid textures, and strophic forms for which he is best known.

 

For this disc, Eugene Asti has gathered together a dazzling selection of singers, including some of the most exciting young artists working today. Katherine Broderick, the winner of the coveted 2007 Kathleen Ferrier Prize, has a uniquely beautiful voice, its bloom and agility belying its considerable power.

 

Total Duration: 67'17

 

Hyperion CDA67739