1. Pădurea
(The Forest) [2:58]
2. Septembrie cu roze (September
with Roses) [3:15]
3. Prea
sus aţi fost! (So far
above!) [3:12]
4. Linişte
(Silence) [2:57]
5. Cucule, de ce nu vii? (Cuckoo,
why don’t you return?) [2:32]
6. Cîntecul pugarului (Lament
of the plow) [2:51]
7. Casa
noastră (Our house)
[2:41]
8. Fată
mare (Fair Maiden) [2:44]
9. Mors magna (Mors Magna) [3:32]
10. Vin’ sub plopul (Come under
the poplar) [3:10]
11. La groapa lui Laie (At the
grave of Laie) [5:34]
12. Dorurile mele (My yearnings)
[2:49]
13. Părăsit
(Abandoned) [3:40]
14. Rea
de plată (The reluctant
debt payer) [2:06]
15. Pe dealul Feleacului (On
the hill of Feleac) [3:32]
16. În fereastra dinspre mare
(At the window on the sea) [2:31]
17. Şi
dacă ramuri bat în geam
(And if branches beat against the window)
18. Stelele-n cer (Stars in the
sky) [3:52]
19. La steaua (Toward the star)
[3:24]
20. Pe
lîngă ploplii fără soţ
(Where mateless poplars grow) [2:59]
21. Ş-acele
dulci păreri de rău
(And the sweet remorse) [2:02]
22. Pe
aceeaşi ulicioară
(On the same lane) [2:36]
23. Fragment din Scrisoarea IV
(Excerpt from the Fourth Epistle) [2:40]
24. S-a
stins Viaţa (‘Tis gone
the life of Venice) [4:15]
Having heard the companion
disc, sung by Ruxandra Donose (Nimbus
NI 5809
review), I had eagerly been looking
forward to hearing more of Nicolae Bretan’s
songs. This issue just confirms what
an individual voice the Hungarian born
Romanian is in the field of Lieder.
There are influences, but they are mainly
from folksong, even though they can’t
be labelled folkloristic. I thought
I heard echoes, however faint, of Sibelius
on the previous disc and I felt so again
here, but this is more a general mood
than a strict influence. What most of
all is striking is how well they are
written for the human voice. Of course
Bretan was a singer himself and there
is a photo of him, at the age of 76,
singing one of his songs in both booklets.
Dressed in white shirt, waistcoat and
bow-tie, glass in hand, he radiates
enjoyment and the music seems to flow
effortlessly out of him. I get the same
feeling when hearing the songs on these
discs. It is true that Alexandru Agache
is no longer in his first flush of youth
and that he sometimes is a little strained.
Even so the performer is so at one with
the songs and that is surely the hallmark
of a good composition.
I could refer readers
to the first review for some comments
on the songs, since the same comments
apply here too. In several cases the
two singers have chosen the same songs,
which invites to comparison but more
readily shows how well suited they are
to these two quite different voices.
Agache, well known
from the major opera houses as well
as from numerous recordings, has been
a leading interpreter of the central
Verdian baritone roles for many years.
The opening song, The Forest
with its thundering piano accompaniment,
is sung with all the power and dramatic
involvement of a Macbeth or Count di
Luna. But he is just as apt at conveying
the beauty and the lyricism of many
of these songs: inward and restrained
in September with roses (tr.
2) or the soft singing in Silence
(tr. 4). The fact is that when I had
played the disc straight through I felt
I wanted to replay it at once, which
I think is the best assessment I could
give it. Maybe it was that last song,
the wonderful ‘Tis gone the life
of Venice that triggered me for
a new round.
I know I am repeating
myself but it is always a special treat
to hear singers performing in their
mother-tongue. Since few non-Romanians
master the language we have to be grateful
that there are so many good singers
from Romania around. We can only hope
that more of them will champion Bretan’s
songs.
Readers who feel they
can only stretch themselves to one disc
should start with Ms Donose’s, since
her readings are even more assured than
Agache’s – good though he is. Once hooked
by the songs I am sure many will get
Agache as well. He is well accompanied
by the versatile Martin Berkofsky and
the recording is excellent. This is
another worthy collection of Nicolae
Bretan’s songs.
Göran Forsling
Other Bretan reviews
My
Lieder-Land Volume 1
My
Lieder-Land Volume 2 RECORDING
OF THE MONTH (April)
SONGS
Ruxandra Donose (sop)
SONGS
Alexandru Agache (baritone)
Sacred
Songs
Horia
- Opera
Golem,
Arald - Operas
Alexandru Agache (baritone), Martin Berkofsky
(piano) 
Sound Sample - excerpt
