Let it
be said straightaway, this is a varied and most interesting release,
in that it includes some familiar stuff (Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder)
as well as some less familiar works, although Nystroem’s song cycle
is rather better-known than de Boeck’s songs, the real novelty here.
Wagner’s Wesendonck
Lieder have become a classic of some sort, and thus do not call
for many comments. Suffice it to say that they are quite beautiful and
beautifully sung here by Nina Stemme superbly partnered by Jozef de
Beenhouwer.
1. Der Engel | The Angel
sample
2. Stehe still | Be Still sample
3. Im Treibhaus | In the Hothouse sample
4. Schmerzen | Sorrows sample
5. Traume | Dreams sample
Nystroem’s beautiful song
cycle Sånger vid havet is comparatively well-known and
has been regularly taken-up by sopranos or mezzo-sopranos. I came to
love this piece through an old recording by Aulikki Rautawaara (on Swedish
Society SCD 1039, possibly still available) and, some time later, thanks
to Rosemarie Lang’s recording (BIS CD-530). These recordings are both
of the orchestral version, that – on the whole – may be more successful
in conveying the presence of the sea that has often been a source of
inspiration for Nystroem (just think of his third symphony Sinfonia
del Mare [1946/8] or of his symphonic poem Ishavet
[1924/5]); but the present recording of the voice-and-piano version
works remarkably well indeed. Listening to it again, I was not surprised
that this atmospheric, often impressionistic song cycle has enjoyed
(and still does) some popularity among sopranos and audiences as well.
Of course, Nina Stemme is on her own territory here and sings beautifully
throughout.
6. Ute i skaren | Out on
the Skerries (rocky islands) sample
7. Nocturne sample
8. Havets visa | Song of the Sea sample
9. Jag har ett hem vid havet | I have a home by the sea sample
10. Jag vantar manen | I wait for the moon sample
August de Boeck and his
near-contemporary Lodewijk Mortelmans may rightly be considered as the
founding fathers of 20th century Flemish music. They were
the first Flemish composers of status who also opened Flemish music
to new expressive worlds, mainly Impressionism that informs much of
their late music, although both were and remained post-romantic composers
at heart. De Boeck’s splendid Symphony in G is reasonably
well-known, but other important facets of his sizeable and varied output
are still too little-known. He consistently composed songs and vocal
works throughout his career including several operas (e.g. Winternachtsdroom
available on Phaedra 92025). His numerous songs either on Flemish poems
or French words, often exist either with piano accompaniment or with
orchestra; but they, too, are highly effective when heard with piano
accompaniment as is amply demonstrated by this recording of his seven
songs on French words by Jeanne Cuisinier. She wrote these poems when
she was twenty or so, and de Boeck set five of them when the ink was
hardly dry. De Boeck’s first five settings actually date from 1911-1912,
whereas two more settings were composed in 1915. These are marvellous
settings in the vein of Duparc, Fauré or Chausson, with an occasional
glance towards Debussy, so no wonder that Ravel is reported to have
appreciated some of them.
11. Ete | Summer sample
12. Sonnet sample
13. Mystere | Mystery sample
14. Eclosion | Bud Opening sample
15. Fidelite sample
16. Le Don | The Gift sample
17. Elegie | Elegy sample
Nina Stemme
was a name new to me; but, after receiving this release, I realised
that she has also recorded for Chandos and had taken part in another
Phaedra release, entirely devoted to Mortelmans, this time (Phaedra
92033). I loved her warm voice that sounds to me as more a mezzo-soprano
voice than a soprano voice, and I admired her dedication to the music.
Moreover, her French diction is really excellent. Again, she is superbly
partnered by Jozef de Beenhouwer, one of Belgium’s finest pianists and
most distinguished accompanists and chamber musicians. Yes, I enjoyed
this release enormously and recommend it wholeheartedly.
Hubert Culot
Nina Stemme (soprano); Jozef de Beenhouwer (piano)