The record debut in solitary of austrian mezzosopran Angelika Kirchschlager join together, not without a certain logic, songs from three composers whose common point was the Vienna of the beginning of the century; furthermore, the figure of Alma Maria Schindler (later Alma Mahler, Alma Gropius and Alma Werfel) appears as the main figure of the record. From her there is five stupendous lieder whom unveil an author much more interesting than the general public may imagine, specially on the elaborated In Meine Vaters Garten on a text from Otto Erich Hartleben. Framing these songs are the two Erich Wolfgang Korngold cycles here presented, both on its first complete world recording; first there are the very beautiful Fünf Lieder, op.38, maybe his more melodic lieder cycle, which includes the excellent Glückwunsch, over a Richard Dehmel text, as well the terrific Alt-Spanisch with text from Howard Koch, a song he wrote for The Sea Hawk (1940). From the Songs of the Clown, op.29 stands out the wise use of William Shakespeare's poetics, and its perfect balance between the seriousness of Come Away, Death and the joyful rhythmical sense of Hey, Robin!. Also, we musn't forget that, in 1945, Korngold dedicate his famous Violin Concerto, op.35 to Alma Mahler-Werfel, in a gesture which showed his respect and reminiscence toward her image. To close, the three full cycles of Gustav Mahler's Lieder und Gesänge, works from his first period which cover a time of eleven years on which his author had already settled his musical language -with pieces of the stature of Das Klagende Lied (1887-1880) or the Symphony Nr.1 (1889)-; Mahler's essence is present along the fourteen songs, among them are included the Serenade and Phantasie on Tirso de Molina's Don Juan, or Ablösung im Sommer, one of the multiple lyrics used by Mahler from Das Knaben Wunderhorn, which later will be reused on the Symphony Nr.3 (1902). The performance, both Kirchschlager as well the pianist Deutsch, is modelic, with an excellent attention to the hues and a spectacular sound capture. A delight of a record, absolutely advisable.

Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Fünf Lieder, op.38 (1940-1947) - 9:03
Alma Maria Schindler-Mahler: Fünf Lieder (1900-1901) - 12:46
Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Songs of the Clown, op.29 (1937) - 9:08
Gustav Mahler: Lieder und Gesänge (1880-1891) - 33:51
Angelika Kirchschlager (Mezzosopran), Helmut Deutsch (Piano)
SONY CLASSICAL 01-068344-10 / 65'

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