27.06.2023

FLORIAN BOESCH | new album "Schumann: Dichterliebe and Kerner Lieder"

Throughout his career, Florian Boesch has devoted himself intensively to the work of Robert Schumann, as evidenced in several recordings. On his latest album he presents the composer’s arguably best-known song cycle Dichterliebe together with the Liedzyklus Op. 35, and twelve songs based on texts by Justinus Kerner. On the recording released with Lynn Records, also available on all streaming platforms, Boesch not only convinces with his vocal timbre, intonation and diction, which are perfectly tailored to each song, but also provides an inspiring interpretation and interplay with Malcolm Martineau on the piano.

The singer himself is convinced that Dichterliebe is a piano piece with vocal accompaniment and not the other way around. In his opinion, the Dichterliebe cannot be understood, without first understanding the piano part. The way Schumann explores the depths of the human soul in the piano is crucial to this cycle. In the piano postludes, Schumann’s music has the final say. Every single note is fundamental - which is why Malcolm Martineau plays the postludes so slowly and broadly, so that each note is perceived as a musically important text. There is no superficial moment in this piece - and the way that Martineau echoes Boesch’s sentiment is clear from the BBC Radio 3 review of this recording, when the journalist says These two seem to make music from one brain!

The same is true of "The Guardian" review, which adds: "this is as fine a recorded performance of Dichterliebe as any released in recent years".
Read the full review here.

Schumann: “Dichterliebe“ Opus 24
"Kerner Lieder“ Opus 48

Florian Boesch, Baritone
Malcolm Martineau, Piano

Available from Lynn Records // Release date: 16 June 2023
and on all available streaming platforms