Christiane Karg feels close to Richard Strauss, and not simply
because they both grew up amid Bavarian landscape. Together with Mozart,
the great late Romanticist now plays an ever greater part in her
repertoire: she was recently acclaimed in both Antwerp and Ghent as
Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier. Since Strauss has always figured in her
lieder recitals, this CD of Strauss lieder comes as no surprise,
especially in view of the forthcoming anniversary year, marking the
composer's 150th birthday. Indeed, anyone who has followed Christiane
Karg's career will see this new release as a logical consequence. You
only have to listen to the timbres in her voice and the skill with which
she lends them an artistic and natural touch, and you will hardly be
able to avoid comparisons with the great voices of her Fach.
Christiane
Karg's personal choice of lieder combines the familiar with the
seldomheard, lively songs with more reflective ones, and delivers a
convincing range that rightly demotes such details to a secondary role.
She succeeds in demonstrating as has seldom been achieved the touching
manner in which Strauss's early and mature lyricism is able to transform
the great themes of love and transience that were woven into his
expression of the Romantic world around him.
One especially
charming example is the song "Alphorn" written when the composer was a
mere twelve years old, requiring an obbligato horn, played on this
recording by Felix Klieser. Her pianist is Malcolm Martineau, an
exceptional artist in his own right, who navigates virtuoso hurdles with
ease while giving the vocal part a steady foundation. One only needs to
hear the opening bars of "Morgen" in order to capture that remarkable
musical pulse. – This is a real summit of achievement! (Presto Classical)
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