Schumann - Mignon Songs, op.98a

[andhow04]

schumann wrote several lieder from goethe's Wilhelm Meister, published as op.98a (98b is "Requiem for Mignon") and four of them were songs of Mignon herself.  here's a live performance we did of thsoe four songs... the recording is not great quality but i just love these songs so much i wanted to share.  they are very operatic, and harmonically they are totally anticipating wagner... the first one is on the homesick poem "Kennst du das Land...?"

the second is on the very famous text "Nur wer der Sehnsucht kennt" which Schubert also set.

the third is "Heiss mich nicht reden" especialy operatic, listen towards the end at the words "Nur ein Gott." it could be straight out of the Ring cycle!

the last is "So lasst mich scheinen"

enjoy!

[rachfan]

Hi andhow,

These songs are very beautiful.  Fine singing and a sympathetic accompanist too!  In addition to the influence on Wagner, I also hear some moments foreshadowing Richard Strauss.

[emill]

Hi Nathan,

These are beautiful even if I did not understand one word!
I liked best II .... it sounds soulfully sad to me today.....

[furtwaengler]

Thank you for posting these. I had not previously known them, and they are wonderful.

[birba]

Beautiful.  Really beautiful!!  It took a while to get used to the soprano's vibrato - there were times it sounded almost out of control - but when my ear got accustomed to it, I went back and listened again from the beginning.   I wasn't familiar with Schumann's mignon.  Very dramatic.  You are a wonderful "accompanist" - sometimes a little too much in the background, though.  Probably the recording.