(CD) ELLY AMELING SINGS SCHUBERT
RUDOLF JANSEN PIANO

Dutch soprano Elly Ameling is one of the most celebrated performers of her generation. Known as an accomplished Lieder singer, her career spanned 40 years and saw performances in virtually every major concert venue across the world. She was particularly appreciated for her recitals of French and German song, and her recordings received many awards in their time, including the coveted Grand Prix du Disque and Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. This release features an historic live recording made in 1987 at the famous Tanglewood Center in Massachusetts. The intimate venue allows a certain proximity between the listener and performer that tends to be lacking in larger concert halls, creating a perfect atmosphere for Schubert's intimate Lieder. Here, Ameling has selected a number of Schubert's songs, some well known and some slightly more obscure, with the dramatic extremes of emotion showcasing a variety of colours and timbres in her wonderfully warm voice. Starting in the glorious month of spring with one of Schubert's best known Lieder, Im Fruhling, the recording begins with a theme beloved of many Romantic composers. Nature remains present throughout, as we are treated to the fluttering of the butterfly in Der Schmetterling and the shimmering undulation of the water in Auf dem Wasser zu singen. Themes of love and romance are present in works such as An Sylvia and Heimliches Lieben, though whilst these two Lieder illustrate the highs, Schubert also depicts the extremes of despair, most notably in the passionate work Die junge Nonne. Elly Ameling is accompanied here by Rudolf Jansen, the Dutch pianist well known for his collaboration with notable artists including Peter Schreier and Tom Krause. The recital was reviewed in Gramophone magazine at the time of its initial release, with the reviewer remarking that "this is the Ameling I recall from so many satisfying recitals [...] nothing suits her better than the songs of Schubert" and praising Jansen for his "unobtrusively positive form".