Schubert Swansong - Sir John Tomlinson

Continuing the series by Christopher Glynn of late Schubert song cycles in English, joined by renowned soloists Sir John Tomlinson, Sophie Bevan, Julian Bliss and Alec Frank-Gemmill. Swansong (Schwanengesang) D 957 sets the words of poets Ludwig Rellstab, Heinrich Heine and Johann Gabriel Seidl in songs that cover a variety of different emotional states. On the River (Auf dem Strom) combines soprano, clarinet and horn in a setting of a poem by Ludwig Rellstab. The 1828 work The Shepherd on the Rock (Der Hirt auf dem Felsen) sets words by Wilhelm Müller and German playwright Helmina von Chézy, and was composed in hommage to the soprano Anna Milder-Hauptmann. In this CD, it is performed by Sophie Bevan and Julian Bliss and it tells the story of a shepherd lamenting the distance between him and his beloved before a reflection on loneliness and grief. The final section rejoices the arrival of spring and hope for the future.

Swansong D957 Part 1 (Sir John Tomlinson (bass), Christopher Glynn (Piano)

Love message: Beautful mill-stream so wild and free

The warrior's foreboding: in twos and threes beside the fire

Longing for Spring: Tenderly whispering leaves in the trees

Serenade: Softly flowing through the moonlight

My Home: Waters that race

Far away: Cursed is my destiny

Leave-taking: Farewell you wonderful ramshackle town

Swansong D957 Part 2 (Sir John Tomlinson (bass), Christopher Glynn (Piano)

Atlas: I live my life like Atlas

Her picture: I stood before her portrait

The fisher maiden: You lovely fisher maiden

The town: Just there on the horizon

By the sea: The final rays of the setting sun

Doppelganger: Dark is the night

Piogeon post D956a: I have a Pigeon who works for me, (Sir John Tomlinson (bass), Christopher Glynn (Piano)

On the river D943: There is no more time for kissing, Sophie Bevan (Soprano), Alec Franc-Gemmil (horn), Christopher Glynn (Piano)

The shepherd on the rock, D965: When to the highest hill I go, Sophie Bevan (Soprano), Julian Bliss (Clarinet), Christopher Glynn (Piano)