No one ever sings these songs anymore–well, okay, hardly ever. But let’s just say that for whatever reason, these songs to the poetry of Friedrich Schiller are not among the best-loved and most immediately ingratiating of Schubert’s works in the genre. For one thing, although many follow traditional strophic form, several of them inspired the composer to broader and more intense explorations of expressive techniques, and these through-composed works, such as the 27-verse ballad Der Taucher (The Diver), take on a dramatic dimension that requires more concentrated effort from the listener. Nevertheless, it’s still Schubert–the greatest master of song-writing who ever lived–we’re listening to, and your time will not be wasted whether you’re just discovering these pieces (10 songs are included on this program) or revisiting them. And your visit will be made all the easier by means of baritone Martin Bruns’ sensitive, warm-toned, personable performances. His lyrical, clear voice is at times reminiscent of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (but without Fischer-Dieskau’s natural, seamless legato), and it’s a fine match for this set of songs that together require a wide range of expression, from the straightforward Punschlied (Drinking Song) to the alternately gentle and jaunty Der Alpenjäger (The Huntsman on the Mountain) to the irregularly-structured drama of Laura am Clavier (Laura at the Keyboard). And speaking of the keyboard, pianist Ulrich Eisenlohr, who also is the artistic advisor for Naxos’ ongoing Schubert-Lied-Edition project, is every bit as impressive here as in his earlier appearances in the series. The sound places the singer and piano in comfortable balance and allows Bruns’ voice plenty of air in a slightly bright but friendly acoustic.
