Episode 252. Zsolt Bognár Introduces A Baritonal Schubertiade

Episode 252. Zsolt Bognár Introduces A Baritonal Schubertiade

I was thrilled to discover a while back that the pianist, interviewer, and journalist Zsolt Bognár, who produces the video series Living the Classical Life, is a devoted fan of Countermelody. We recently met up in person in NYC, where we discussed, among many other things, the supremacy of Franz Schubert and how his humanity finds perfect expression in his compositions. Zsolt has graciously provided the introduction to this episode, one of my favorites in the history of the podcast, which I originally produced for the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. As I remarked then, I repeat now: when I am at a loss for words, I always turn to Schubert and his music. In keeping with this month’s theme of great baritones, I once again offer this episode, which I have entitled “A Baritonal Schubertiade.” Listeners will discover some singers that we’ve already heard this month, primarily Bernard Kruysen and Jorma Hynninen, and two more singers (Gérard Souzay and Alexander Kipnis) who will be featured in full episodes next week. Kipnis’s recording stems from 1927, while German baritone Roman Trekel’s selection was recorded in 2017. Thus we have 90 years of great Lieder singing to enjoy in this episode: in addition to the singers already mentioned, Tom Krause (pictured with Carl Kundmann’s statue of Schubert in the Stadtpark in Vienna), Hans Hotter, Lawrence Winters, Hermann Prey, Barry McDaniel, Heinrich Schlusnus, Pavel Lisitsian, Bernard Diamant, and Karl Schmitt-Walter are also featured. And the episode begins with Zsolt’s recording of Liszt’s stirring transcription of Schubert’s “Aufenthalt.”

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Franz Schubert, arr. Franz Liszt: Aufenthalt, S.560/3. Zsolt Bognár [2010]

All Songs Composed by Franz Schubert. Poets as listed.

Johann Georg Jacobi: Litanei auf das Fest Allerseelen, D.343. Gérard Souzay, Dalton Baldwin [1954]

Friedrich Schiller: Die Götter Griechenlands, D.677. Simon Keenlyside, Malcolm Martineau [1996]

Ludwig Rellstab: Herbst, D.945. Tom Krause, Irwin Gage [1972]

Johann Gabriel Seidl: Der Wanderer an den Mond, D.870. Aksel Schiøtz, Paul Ulanowsky [1960]

Johann Mayrhofer: Abendstern, D.806. Barry McDaniel, Ernest Lush [1965]

Wilhelm Müller: Die Krähe (Winterreise, D.911/15. Bernard Kruysen, Gerard van Blerk [1997]

Wilhelm Müller: Der Wegweiser (Winterreise, D.911/20). Alexander Kipnis, Frank Bibb [1927]

Johann Mayrhofer: Memnon, D.541. Josef Greindl, Michael Raucheisen [1944]

Jacob Nicolaus Craigher de Jachelutta: Totengräbers Heimweh, D.842. Roman Trekel, Oliver Pohl [2017]

Johann Gabriel Seidl: Das Zügenglöcklein, D.871. Robert Holl, David Lutz [1985]

Johann Mayrhofer: Nachtstück, D.672. Karl Schmitt-Walter, Michael Raucheisen [1941]

Franz von Schober: Pilgerweise, D.789. Hans Hotter, Michael Raucheisen [1944]

Franz von Schober: Pax vobiscum, D.551. Leo Schützendorf, Max Saal [1930]

Friedrich Schiller: Hoffnung, D.637. Hermann Prey, Gerald Moore [1960]

Wilhelm Müller: Der Müller und der Bach (Die schöne Müllerin, D.795/19). Jorma Hynninen, Rolf Gothóni [1989]

Aloys Wilhelm Schreiber: An den Mond in einer Herbstnacht, D.614. Heinrich Schlusnus, Sebastian Peschko [1942]

Friedrich Rückert: Daß sie hier gewesen. Bernard Diamant, John Newmark [1964]

Johann Mayrhofer: Auflösung, D.807. Lawrence Winters, Walter Martin [1955]

Franz von Schober: An die Musik, D.547. Pavel Lisitsan, Sergey Gorchakov, Orchestra of the All-Union Radio Committee [1948]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Wandrers Nachtlied II, D.768 [Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh]. Gérard Souzay, Dalton Baldwin [1961]