**** Die schöne Magelone is the only song cycle in the oeuvre of Johannes Brahms. It is moreover a somewhat hybrid song cycle, due to the alternation of song with text passages. You especially need outstanding interpreters for it, and they are certainly present on this Sony recording.
The recording had been waiting for review for some time. Because I admit that I find it a somewhat "tougher" piece to listen through than an "ordinary" song cycle. How do the respected baritone Christian Gerhaher and recitant Martin Walser fare with pianist Gerold Huber? So well that I fear my hitherto beloved recording with tenor Christoph Prégardien, with a very beautiful female actress Senta Berger and none other than Andreas Staier at the piano, will face strong competition. Since that Teldec recording is already eighteen years old anyway, I'm pleased with a "renewed" favorite …
Medieval love story
Brahms was a bibliophile by nature and collected texts from prominent Romantics such as Jean Paul, E.T.A. Hoffmann, Joseph von Eichendorff and thus also Ludwig Tieck. He had known the fairy tale of Magelone since his youth, but he only learned of Tieck's poetic version from the Schumanns. Brahms was so charmed by the romance in which French medieval colour merged with German Romantic atmosphere, that he set almost the entire novella to music as his opus 33. The full title better conveys the charm of the poetry: "Liebesgeschichte der schönen Magelone und des Grafen Peter von Provence".
Brahms was deeply moved by the refined story with the typical "Romantic" motifs of the invincible knight, the secret winning of a beloved and abduction, the prolonged separation, anxious longing and the ultimate, happy reunion of the lovers. He composed songs in which the atmosphere of bygone times, his love of nature, desperate love and bewildering enchantment lead to a complex yet homogeneous whole. The music is beautiful. Many of the songs are true masterpieces.
Knight Peter is a lonely wanderer and homeless exile, much as Brahms often regarded himself. The beloved Magelone is the virtuous and noble young lady from whom he becomes disastrously separated. Then there is the exotic Sulima. Peter almost succumbs to her enchantment, but manages to escape her seduction, just in time to find his faithful love again. Treue Liebe dauert lange …: it is a convincing final song of the cycle.
Harmonic balance
Brahms' task of making a coherent whole in song form from this story full of adventurous events is very demanding. The combination of recitation and song has required him much effort and time. Ultimately the coherence is wonderfully beautiful. The succession of song on text flows here with recitant Martin Walser and baritone Christian Gerhaher perfectly naturally. That is certainly one of the great strengths of the recording. From the outset, actor Martin Walser charms with his slightly old-German accent and his somewhat aged-sounding, touching voice, which suits the medieval saga. A true storyteller, Es war eine Zeit … He sounds now convivial and then again tense and moving. You listen attentively to him. Walser also already reveals that the story of two lovers who become separated ends well, like a true fairy tale.
Gerhaher sings with his typical clear baritone timbre, beautiful diction and perfect legato. His emotional engagement is spontaneous, now touching or romantically tender (Sind es Schmerzen, sind es Freuden or Ruhe Süssliebchen) and then again tense or excited (Verzweiflung – So tönet denn schäumende Wellen). Pianist Gerold Huber, with whom Gerhaher forms an almost permanent duo, follows the narrative line attentively and discreetly. The three performers allow the variation of emotions and colours of the narrative song cycle to merge beautifully in harmonic balance. A successful collaboration between three exceptionally fine performers.
- WHAT: Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) | Die schöne Magelone
- WHO: Christian Gerhaher and Martin Walser (voices), Gerold Huber (piano)
- EDITION: Sony Classical 8985311022