Angelika Kirchschlager, Robert Lehrbaumer - Classic Selection: Liederreise (2012)

Liederreise, Angelika Kirchschlager's journey through 19th century German art songs, touches on the major composers of the genre and gives a fair summary of the most popular lieder. The enormously prolific Franz Schubert is represented by nine songs, including Der Lindenbaum, Die Forelle, Gretchen am Spinnrade, Erlkönig, Ständchen, Heidenröslein, and three others. Johannes Brahms has almost as many selections to his credit with seven songs, among which are the famous Wiegenlied (Lullaby), Sandmännchen, Nachtgesang, Och Moder, and Mein Mädel hat einen Rosenmund. Regrettably, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Hugo Wolf, and Richard Strauss each receive only single performances, despite having composed significant amounts of vocal music, and Gustav Mahler closes out the program with three selections from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. For the most part, Kirchschlager has chosen lighthearted and spirited songs that have highly memorable melodies, and she has largely avoided songs that deal with heartache, madness, and death, themes dear to the Romantic lyricists that are equally characteristic of these composers. Kirchschlager sings with an engaging cheerfulness, and pianist Robert Lehrbaumer provides an alert and spry accompaniment that complements the singer's bright attitude. Preiser's recording is reasonably close to the artists, so they have credible presence and clean sound.