Lortzing / Schumann - Habet Acht [CD]

This is male choral song at it's finest: the Neue Detmolder Liedertafel enlivens a tradition with fresh spirit and a special sense of beauty. And what it's fifteen members and vocal powerhouses can do when they give their best with the four Detmolder Hornisten is a genuine audio delight. The works for male choir by Robert Schumann and Albert Lortzing brought together on this double album represent the height of Romantic song artistry- above all when they are so magnificently rendered. Singing in male circles was initially perhaps only a pretext enabling men to gather together in public without being suspected of engaging in conspiratorial activities. During the metings of the Dresdner Liedertafel, which Schumann led for a time, an hour of musical performance was always followed by an hour of parliamentary debate. It is hard to believe that authorities of the pre-1848 era would have stood idly by if the actually rather unsuspicious pastime of singing had not been part of the deal. The Neue Detmolder Liedertafel has special ties to Albert Lortzing inasmuch as he was active at the local Lippe Court Theater for some time. During difficult later years his male choral works helped him to support himself and his family. Everything is represented in these works, from cheerfulness to contemplation, including surprising reminiscences of Zar und Zimmermann and Der Wildschutz and making Romantic choral song simply irresistible!