Watch tenor Timothy Fallon sing “Pace non trovo,” the second of the three Petrarch sonnets set to music by Franz Liszt . . .
I first heard songs composed by Franz Liszt back in my conservatory days, thanks to a superb recording by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore on the DGG label. I still have a copy of that LP on my shelf, but now I am now pleased to be able to listen to another album of Liszt songs, this one performed by a wonderful young tenor named Timothy Fallon and pianist Ammiel Busakevitz.
This new release from the BIS label is a recording to listen to and savor repeatedly – and a wonderful way to explore the unique songs by Franz Liszt. As you will hear, some of Lizst’s songs are idiomatically Italian (the three settings of songs by Francesco Petrarca, all performed by Fallon on this recording), others seem organically French in style (the very beautiful “Oh! Quand je dors”), almost presaging Fauré. Still other songs (“Jugendglück”), sound almost as though they could have been written by Schubert; but they are forward-looking too, with just a soupçon of Hugo Wolf hovering at the edges. Liszt was an international musician, so perhaps his ability to be at home in different national song styles should not come as a surprise. One surprising thing, perhaps, is that none of the songs sounds anything like music composed by Liszt’s son-in-law, Richard Wagner.
Classical Archives Members May CLICK HERE to Listen to the Whole Release
Tracks 1-3 – Tre Sonetti del Petrarca, (“Pace non trovo,” “Benedetto sia’l giorno” and “I’ vidi in terra angelici”)
Track 4 – ”Angiolin dal biondo crin”
Track 5 – ”Comment disaient-ils”
Track 6 – “Oh! Quand je dors”
Track 7 – ”Enfant, si j’étais roi”
Track 8 – ”S’il est un charmant gazon”
Track 9 – ”Go Not, Happy Day”
Track 10 – ”Kling leise, mein Lied”
Track 11- ”Jugendglück”
Tracks 12-15 – 3 Lieder aus Schillers William Tell (“Der Fischerknabe,” “Der Hirt” and “Der Alpenjäger”)
Why Isn’t “Die Drei Zigeuner” on this Album?
Some Liszt fans might wonder why his song “Die Drei Zigeuner” (“The Three Gypsies”) is not included on this recording. It is, after all, probably his most famous song, with a melody that Liszt also used in his Piano Concerto No. 1.
I, for one, and glad that it has been left out. It is a character sketch at best, and is not as strong as any of the songs that Fallon included on this disk. I would like to commend him for having the courage to omit the song that has, it seems to me, caused many people to misclassify Liszt as a second-rate composer of songs. Liszt was anything but, and Fallon proves it on this much-needed, satisfying recording.
This is a great recital, and has persuaded me to sign up to Classical Archives. Very good singing, and subtle, detail-oriented accompaniment.
‘Die Drei Zigeuner’ – Liszt’s most famous song? Hmmm, not sure about that! 🙂 But my choice for ‘most famous’ wouldn’t feature in a male recital program in any case. Surely ‘Die Lorelei’ is Liszt’s most accomplished foray into the song repertoire? Quite rightly, it has remained the purview of sopranos and mezzos – who can deliver the required degree of capricious psychotic insanity in the closing section. It remains a tantalising sketch for the operas Liszt mysteriously never wrote… despite his own career in opera-houses.
Thanks so much for the wonderful, informed and insightful comment. I know that some videos that are available on Youtube in the States are not available in other countries, but there is a nice short one up here in which Diana Damrau sings bits of Die Lorelei and talks about it. You are right, that it gives us a glimpse of what kind of opera composer Liszt might have been. I suppose I was thinking that Die Drei Zigeuner was the best known because back in my conservatory days, a number of kid baritones would toss it into a recital as an encore, just because it was “different” and people found it to be a curiosity.
I am delighted that you have joined Classical Archives. There is so much to savor and explore. I was just listening to a recording of Nicolai Gedda singing a recital of songs that are all settings of texts by Pushkin. Really fantastic. I’m planning to blog soon about Gedda. There are a lot of great recording here on CA.
Best regards and thanks, Barry Lenson
Thanks, Barry!
I will look forward keenly to your blogging about Gedda :))