Barbara Bonney, Vladimir Ashkenazy - Robert & Clara Schumann: Lieder (1997)

I've listened to many recordings of "Fraunliebe", and although I still would not give up my precious disc with Lucia Popp's interpretation (now out of print), Bonney's interpretation is so moving on account of it's very convincing use of rubato. I listened to Bonney sing these songs (meaning "Fraunliebe" and some of Clara Schumann's) in Vienna. Her interpretation (especially through rubato) gave me the impression that she was not singing but speaking -- more specifically, speaking to *me*, about all the joys and sorrows of life. Of course I'm aware that she wasn't really doing so, but the effect was just magical. And now I enjoy that same impression every time I listen to this CD! Ashkenazy accompanies with utmost sensitivity, bringing out some voices which one doesn't usually hear. And yes, Clara Schumann's Lieder are beautiful in their own right. Has anyone noticed that "Er ist gekommen" resembles the D minor episode of the last movement of Robert's "Kreisleriana"? Also, Clara's "Mein Stern" resembles the chorale-like theme from the end of the penultimate movement of "Kreisleriana." Any musicologists out there who might know what to make of this? I know Clara and Robert were fond of quoting each other in their own compositions, so it's hard to imagine these cases being mere coincidences of musical invention...