Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Vergessene Lieder (Remastered) Klaus Mertens & Gitti Pirner

• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847):
• 1 "Sicheln schallen, Ähren fallen", MWV K 12 01:46
• 2 "Ich denke dein, wenn durch den Hain", MWV K 16 03:05
• 3 Der Verlassne "Nacht ist um mich her", MWV K 5 04:41
• 4 Erinnerung "Was will die einsame Träne", MWV K 94 01:57
• 5 Wiegenlied "Schlummre sanft und milde", MWV K 8 03:16
• 6 Der Wasserfall "Rieselt hernieder, schäumende Fluten", MWV K 22 04:45
• 7 Lied ohne Worte (Allegro agitato), a-Moll, op. 85 Nr. 2, MWV U 101 01:02
• 8 "Weiter, rastlos, atemlos, vorüber, festlich helles Schloss" ("An Marie"), MWV K 49 01:23
• 9 Lied der Freundin "Zarter Blumen leicht Gewinde", MWV K 95 02:38
• 10 Der Tag "Sanft entschwanden mir der Kindheit Tage", MWV K 57 04:17
• 11 Reiterlied "Immer fort von Ort zu Ort", MWV K 58 03:04
• 12 Abschied "Leb wohl, mein Lieb, und weine nicht", MWV K 59 01:35
• 13 Der Bettler "Ich danke Gott, dir Gott im hohen Himmel", MWV K 60 03:07
• 14 Lied ohne Worte (Molto Allegro vivace), A-Dur, op. 53 Nr. 6, MWV U 154 03:15
• 15 Im Kahn "Mein Liebchen, wir saßen beisammen", MWV K 91 02:23
• 16 Charakterstück (Sanft und mit Empfindung), e-Moll, op. 7 Nr. 1, MWV U 56 02:27
• 17 Reiselied "Ich reit ins finstre Land hinein", Fragment, MWV K 67 02:21
• 18 "Sanft weh'n im Hauch der Abendluft", MWV K 9 02:46
• 19 "Warum sind denn die Rosen so blass", Fragment, MWV K 83 02:31
• 20 Lied ohne Worte (Andante espressivo), Es-Dur, op. 30 Nr. 1, MWV U 103 03:38
• 21 Andres Mailied "Ich weiß mir'n Mädchen", MWV K 81 02:41
• 22 Gruß "O könnt' ich zu dir fliegen", MWV K 98 01:50
• 23 Lied ohne Worte (Andante espressivo), G-Dur, op. 62 Nr. 1, MWV U 185 02:29
• Total Runtime 01:02:57

Info for Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Vergessene Lieder (Remastered)

Mendelssohn rediscovered: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was the last great 19th century composer whose works were not completely listed. In the Mendelssohn anniversary year of 2009 this loophole has been closed thanks to the publishing of the Leipzig Edition of the works of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy by the Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig. It was only in 2007/2008, as a result of research work that the musical public first gained awareness of among other pieces, 61 of a total of 115 songs composed for voice and piano.

The "forgotten" songs included in this album date from throughout the composer’s entire creative period, and demonstrate superbly the many facets, colours and richness of ideas of his musical creations.

The songs have been combined with a completely different artistic genre, one which was Mendelssohn’s own: the songs without words - lyrical piano pieces with vocal style melodies.

"This project was most appealing to Gitti and myself. We were aware of the existence, albeit fragmental, of some unpublished songs, but we were absolutely astonished when as a result of the complete Mendelssohn Edition a entirely new volume of Lieder came to light. We played and sang through the works with great enthusiasm and the thrill that comes from exploring, selected some of them, and took great joy in recording the ones we had chosen." Klaus Mertens

This album is a treasure trove for music lovers and performers alike.

"... Mertens has just the right voice for these songs, a light baritone with beautiful clarity of diction. Pirner in turn has a truly Mendelssohnian lightness and brilliance of touch and makes her own contribution to the programme with four Songs Without Words. The booklet has full texts, with good translations by Richard Stokes. It is an attractive programme, and fills in what are bound to be gaps in most collections." (John Warrack, International Record Review)

"... Both singer and soloist unashamedly admit their admiration for this mostly forgotten repertoire, and performances are consistently fresh, lively and enthusiastic. Their fastidious attention to detail is also praiseworthy. This is an extremely pleasant and important addition to the Mendelssohn catalogue which should not be missed. Sound and documentation are first-rate." (Gerald Fenech, www.classica.net)

Klaus Mertens, bass-baritone
Gitti Pirner, piano

Digitally remastered

Klaus Mertens
studied under Professor Else Bischof-Bornes and Professor Jakon Stämpfi (Lieder, concert singing, and oratorio) as well as under Peter Massmann (opera). Right after his final degree, his impressive career started at home and abroad as a much sought after performer, especially of the baroque oratorio literature. His repertoire has long since run the whole gamut of lieder, oratorio, and concerts, from Monteverdi right up to contemporary composers, some of whom even dedicate their compositions to him. His catalogue of record- ings, which number around one hundred and fifty five CDs and DVDs, together with radio and television recordings is a testament to his competence and versatility as a singer. Klaus Mer- tens has worked in close cooperation with FARAO classics since the year 2000.

Gitti Pirner
studied in Munich, Rome and Geneva under Erik Then-Berg, Guido Agostini and Louis Hiltbrand. She ascribes her great musical and artistic incentive to her studies with Wilhelm Kempff, who said of her that music was a natural calling for her. International concert appearances followed, in which she performed with numerous important orchestras and conductors such as Sergiu Celibidache, Kurt Eichhorn, Enoch zu Guttenberg, Helmuth Rilling, Rudolf Kempe and Franz Welser-Möst. In addition to her solo activities, she regularly appears as an accompanist of Lieder and as a partner in chamber music ensembles. Gitti Pirner is director of a masterclass at the Musikhochschule in Munich, in addition to which she is in demand as a juror at various music competitions.

Booklet for Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Vergessene Lieder (Remastered)