Schumann - Szenen aus Goethes Faust
CD - One of the things that make Faust so incredible is Schumann’s ability to select precisely those scenes from such a huge drama which illustrate that one aspect of redemption.
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Performers
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, honorary guestconductor
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Christian Gerhaher, baritone
Christiane Iven, soprano
Alastair Miles, bass
Werner Güra, tenor
Mojca Erdmann, soprano
Birgit Remmert, alto
Elisabeth von Magnus, alto
Franz-Josef Selig, bass
chorus soloists
Anitra Jellema, soprano
Anjolet Rotteveel, alto
Kevin Doss, tenor
Netherlands Radio Choir
chorus master Simon Halsey
assistant chorus master Gijs Leenaars
Netherlands Children’s Choir
chorus master Wilma ten Wolde
Nikolaus Harnoncourt over Schumanns Faust-Szenen
‘When I think of Schumann, I picture him at the cafe in Dresden where he would meet Wagner and Mendelssohn every week. They were about the same age, and all three were from Saxony. Luckily for Wagner’s reputation, both the others died young; had they lived longer, simultaneously with Wagner, music history would have been very different indeed.’
‘I consider Schumann the greatest genius of the three – Wagner’s genius was not primarily musical, but theatrical. Except for Genoveva, Schumann wrote no operas. He did compose a number of half-oratorio works, including the Faust-Szenen. But it’s not an opera, and I believe it should never be staged. As far as what an oratorio actually is – whether it’s spiritual or secular – listeners should make up their own minds and not have someone else’s view forced on them.’
‘Schumann wanted to focus on one specific aspect of Faust – Verklärung (redemption or glorification) and chose the scenes he set based on that aim. And he didn’t change a single word of the text he set. Each is Goethe’s own.’