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| Christian Gerhaher |
Suzanne Daumann
For the Lieder week-end during the Biennale of Vocal Arts, the Philharmonie de
Paris has invited the best singers of our time. Tonight, baritone Christian Gerhaher, with
pianist Gerold Huber au piano, will offer a judicious choice of Mahler lieder. They are beginning with “Lieder eines fahrenden
Gesellen”, come then to a choice of “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”, and end the
recital with “Kindertotenlieder”. The songs of “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen”
are about a rejected lover and his wanderings. The first text is from “Des
Knaben Wunderhorn”, the other three are written by Mahler. With his clear and resonant voice, which has
acquired over the last years a more expressive warmth and depths, Christian
Gerhaher catches every shade, every contrast, of which these lieder are
especially rich. Mahler oftentimes puts side by side the serene beauty of
nature, bird songs, flowers and colours, and the emotions of the disillusioned
young man – and Gerhaher follows him, supple and expressive. “Des
Knaben Wunderhorn” is a collection of folkloristic texts from the Middle Ages
to the early nineteenth century, an exquisite mixture of naivety and subtlety.
The are telling stories that range from the smiling “Rheinlegendchen” or the
ironic “Um schlimme Kinder artig zu machen” to the deepest sadness, especially
when they are about soldiers’ fates. Gerhaher keeps the perfect balance here
between beauty of tone and expressiveness; he expresses discreetly the
characters’ feelings, making us laugh, smile, sigh…The last lied in this part of the recital, “Wo
die schönen Trompeten blasen”, introduces the subject of the last part – death. “Kindertotenlieder” are a collection of poems
by Friedrich Rückert, in which he expresses the pain of having lost two of his
own children. Mahler’s composition is one of the most poignant works in the
repertoire. Again, Gerhaher’s interpretation is just discreet enough to allow
the music and texts to speak for themselves, with being overly scholarly. His
lovely voice does the rest. In the last lied, “Bei diesem Wetter, bei diesem
Braus”, the storm of the grieving father’s feeling is giving way to a more
peaceful ambiance of acceptation. Thunderous applause for the artists and an
encore: “Urlicht” will be the perfect ending for this memorable evening.
