Episode 382. Eine Janowitzische Geburtstagfeier

Episode 382. Eine Janowitzische Geburtstagfeier

If you “get” Gundula Janowitz, then you really get her, and this birthday tribute will be a delectable treat. If, however, you don’t get her, or don’t think that you get her, you might want to give this episode a try, anyway, for it focuses on her work as a Lieder singer. It is my contention that she was one of the very finest song recitatlists of the late 20th century. Like Grace Bumbry, Margaret Price, Helen Donath, and a number of others, she balanced her work in opera with superlative work on the recital stage. To support my informed opinion, I have found a number of rare live recordings from Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Athens, in which the beloved soprano performs (with her pianists Irwin Gage, Charles Spencer, and Peter Waters and conductor Rudolf Barshai), songs of Strauss, Schubert, Liszt, Wagner, and Hindemith. The episode is supplemented by music by Haydn, Bach, and Robert Stolz, the last an early-career Janowitz performance of his obscure opera Die Rosen der Madonna. In these works, she is heard in duet with Waldemar Kmentt and last week’s featured singer, Hermann Prey. Herzliche (aber nachträgliche) Geburtstagsgrüße an unsere geliebte Frau Kammersängerin!

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Joseph Haydn, Gottfried van Swieten: Von deiner Güt’ (Die Schöpfung, Hob. XXI:2), Gundula Janowitz, Hermann Prey, Herbert von Karajan, Wiener Philharmoniker, Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien [live Salzburg 29.VIII.1965]

Robert Stolz, Bruno Hardt-Warden, Otto Tumlirz: Wilde Rosen, nächtlich aufgeblüht… Aus deinem Wort strömt Wunderkraft (Die Rosen der Madonna). Gundula Janowitz, Waldemar Kmentt, Robert Stolz, Große Orchester des Österreichischen Rundfunks [Radio Wien 1961]

Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Christian Lehms: excerpts from Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199. Gundula Janowitz, Mathieu Lange, Mitglieder des RSO Hannover [from an undated 1970s broadcast]

• Recitative. Auf diese Schmerzensreu
• Chorale. Ich, dein betrübtes Kind
• Recitative. Ich lege mich in diese Wunden
• Aria. Wie freudig ist mein Herz

Selections from televised Lieder Recital. Gundula Janowitz, Charles Spencer [live Tokyo 1985]

• Richard Strauss, Adolf Friedrich von Schack: Heimkehr, Op. 15/5
• Richard Strauss, Hermann Gilm: Die Nacht, Op. 10/3
• Richard Wagner, Mathilde Wesendonck: from the Wesendonck-Lieder.

IV. Schmerzen

V. Träume

Paul Hindemith, Rainer Maria Rilke: Geburt Mariä (Das Marienleben, Op. 27/1, revised version [1948]). Gundula Janowitz, Peter Waters [live Salzburg 15.VIII.1981]

Selections from Holland Festival Recital. Gundula Janowitz, Irwin Gage [live Amsterdam 08.VI.1977]

• Franz Liszt, Emil Kuh: Ihr Glocken von Marling, S.328
• Richard Strauss, Richard Dehmel: Wiegenlied, Op. 41/1
• Richard Strauss, Richard Dehmel: Befreit, Op. 39/4

Franz Schubert, Karl Gottfried von Leitner: Der Winterabend, D. 938. Gundula Janowitz, Charles Spencer [1989]

Richard Strauss, Hermann Hesse: Beim Schlafengehen (Vier letzte Lieder, AV 150/3). Gundula Janowitz, Rudolf Barshai, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker [live 05.III.1977]

Richard Strauss, John Henry Mackay: Morgen!, Op. 27/4. Gundula Janowitz [Farewell Recital], Charles Spencer [live Athens 16.IX.1999]