The impeccable ensemble singing of Thomas E. Bauer and Susanne Bernhard is the finest element in this beautiful recording. It makes one wish for the inclusion of all the part-songs from the Minnespiel, requiring up to four voices, but perhaps we have that to look forward to as the Naxos Schumann series progresses. The next finest element is the stylish playing of Uta Hielscher. Her tone is consistently beautiful, and the phrasing as close to ideal as one finds. Bauer also spins a free-flowing Schumann phrase, due in part to his excellent technical schooling, and whatever reservations one might have about the performances-for example, that the folk song quality of many of the op. 37 songs is lost, or that his diction tends to be somewhat exaggerated, or that his ardor seems slightly forced-these works come to wonderful life through his singing. Susanne Bernhard's bright voice and style seem more suited to the genre of operetta than Lieder, and one finds that her performance of the songs of the frail and enigmatic Mignon does not prove very deep or very convincing. It is interesting that so many great (and not so great) composers have put music to "Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt," but almost none of them has set it as a duet between Mignon and her father, the harper, as it appears in the novel. Over all, the repertoire presented on this disc gives the impression of having been learned rather than lived and learned, but the musical standards are high, and one can, as it were, fill in the blanks. Bauer may well develop into one of our most notable artists.

Tracklist:

Der Himmel Hat Eine Trane Geweint
O Ihr Herren
Ich Hab' In Mich Gesogen
Liebste, Was Kann Denn Uns Scheiden?
Schon Ist Das Fest Des Lenzes
Flugel! Flugel! Um Zu Fliegen
Rose, Meer Und Sonne
O Sonn', O Meer, O Rose
So Wahr Die Sonne Scheinet
Ballade Des Harfners
Nur Wer Die Sehnsucht Kennt
Wer Nie Sein Brot Mit Tranen Ass
Heiss' Mich Nicht Reden
Wer Sich Der Einsamkeit Ergibt
Singet Nicht In Trauertonen
An Die Turen Will Ich Schleichen
So Lasst Mich Scheinen, Bis Ich Werde
Meine Tone Still Und Heiter
Liebster, Deine Worte Stehlen
Ich Bin Dein Baum, O Gartner
Mein Schoner Stern!
O Freund, Mein Schirm, Mein Schutz

UPC: 747313207428
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 7.19.05
Format: CD

Thomas Bauer - Lieder Edition 2 (CD)