<<  -- 4 --  David Wilkins    CREATIVE BEAUTY

With Volume 35, we creep nearer to that oh-so-premature death with songs from 1822 to 1825. I found one or two disappointments in this edition -- Maarten Koningsberger's baritone sound perhaps a little rough, and the four-part song Gebet, at over ten minutes, rather outstaying its welcome. But there are glories aplenty, too. Philip Langridge is his reliably wonderful self in the extraordinary chromaticisms of Dass sie hier gewesen. This is as beguiling an evocation of fragrance and sexual longing as this song could ever hope to receive. No special case needs to be made for the glories of Du bist die Ruh and Lynne Dawson, replete with faultless breath control, tenderness and passion makes it a very moving experience. Elsewhere, there are fine contributions from Christopher Maltman again in the powerful gravedigger's song and the familiar pleasures of Thomas Hampson's musicianship in the Lied des gefangenen Jagers. With the additional benefits of Graham Johnson's ever-sympathetic pianism and splendidly thorough notes, it's another Hyperion winner.

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