Hyperion has just launched
their planned complete edition of the
songs of Richard Strauss with a magisterial
recital by Christine Brewer (CDA67488).
However excellent that new disc may
be I do hope that neither it nor the
mouth-watering prospect of an intégrale
of Strauss lieder will divert
attention from the welcome return to
the lists of this earlier recital. Unaccountably,
I missed this CD first time round but
I’m delighted to have made amends now.
Miss McLaughlin does
not have the refulgent voice that Miss
Brewer possesses, nor does she have
a similar vocal heft. However, her singing
gives pleasure throughout this anthology
and the programme has been well chosen
to play to her own not inconsiderable
vocal strengths.
Her selection includes
some of Strauss’s earliest songs. Eight
of them were composed in or before 1878.
These juvenilia have a certain charm
but, quite frankly, they are slight
pieces beside some of the better-known
songs. The placing of a song such as
Abend- und Morgenrot between
Allerseelen and the darkly glowing
Ruhe, meine Seele just emphasises
the point. I must also say that I regret
that the wonderful Wiegenlied
Op. 41, No. 1 is not included for I’m
sure it would have suited Miss McLaughlin’s
voice. The 1878 song bearing the same
title, but setting a completely different
poem, is a poor substitute.
However, the juvenilia
are all very well performed and there
are many other delights to savour. I’ve
already mentioned Allerseelen
and Ruhe, meine Seele. In the
former Miss McLaughlin spins a lovely,
sustained line and she brings the song
to an ecstatic climax. The latter is
splendidly poised and controlled. She
gives us a gently rapt reading of Leises
Lied and she conveys the joyfulness
of Wie sollten wir geheim sie halten
very effectively.
In goldener Fülle
is another extrovert song and here both
singer and pianist combine to give an
energetic and buoyant performance. It’s
about time I mentioned Graham Johnson
for, as ever, he is the perfect partner
for his singer. Throughout the recital
his playing is delightful and you feel
he is at all times "with"
the singer. In no song is his role more
crucial than in the exquisite Morgen!
Every note in the piano part is
perfectly weighted, every chord placed
to perfection. The song is spun out
daringly by both artists, McLaughlin
singing with great control and warmth.
Time seems to stand still during this
lovely performance. The recital ends
with winning accounts of two of the
composer’s most popular songs. All
mein Gedanken is a delight and the
rapturous Zueignung is just as
successful.
Throughout the recital
Miss McLaughlin sings with warm, fresh
tone and her diction is consistently
clear. I found the recorded sound and
the balance between her and the piano
of the admirable Graham Johnson fully
satisfactory. The documentation includes
a useful essay by Michael Allis, which
is also translated into French and German.
The full texts of the songs and an English
translation are also provided.
This is a thoroughly
enjoyable recital, which has given me
great pleasure. I hope others will enjoy
it as much.
John Quinn
Marie McLaughlin (soprano); Graham Johnson
(piano) 
