Song Recital: Georg Nigl / Olga Pashchenko
»Vanitas« – Songs by Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Rihm
»It’s about life, love and dying«
One of the major themes of western poetry is the transience of all earthly things, or »Vanitas«. Under this title, the internationally acclaimed baritone Georg Nigl, with his unmistakeable voice, interprets art songs by Beethoven, Schubert and Rihm.
Wolfgang Rihm was seriously ill when his friend Georg Nigl sent him a volume of work by the Baroque poet Andreas Gryphius to console him. The gift inspired the composer to write the lieder cycle »Vermischter Traum«, which he dedicated to Nigl. The thoughtful singer now puts this highly personal music at the centre of his latest programme of songs, which he has also recorded as an album with the congenial pianist Olga Pashchenko.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s »An die ferne Geliebte« and the lieder of the »prince of song« Franz Schubert were not necessarily originally intended for performance in a concert hall – 200 years ago, such songs were still sung in the home. For Nigl, who is usually to be seen on the world’s great opera stages, this is where the special challenge of a lieder recital lies: »The music should sound just as intimate as when performed in a small, private room.«
Performers
Georg Nigl baritone
Olga Pashchenko piano
Programme
»Vanitas«
Franz Schubert
Die Taubenpost / aus: Schwanengesang D 957
Die Forelle D 550
Der Wanderer an den Mond D 870
Im Freien D 880
Die Sommernacht D 289 / Zweite Fassung
Abendstern D 806
Fischerweise D 881
Ludwig van Beethoven
An die ferne Geliebte op. 98
– Interval –
Wolfgang Rihm
Vermischter Traum für Bariton und Klavier
Franz Schubert
Der Winterabend D 938
Die Sterne D 939
An die Musik D 547
Abschied D 475
Subscription
Song Recitals
Spotlight
Wolfgang Rihm