Gods & Monsters: Beethoven • Brahms • Mahler • Mendelssohn • Schubert • Schumann • Wolf
Nicholas Phan, tenor
Myra Huang, piano
13th January 2017
AV2368
£12.99 (1CD Jewel Case | 32-page booklet)
Summary:
“It is good to hear a male singer perform Brahm’s Es war ein Markgraf überm Rhein and Mendelssohn’s Hexenlied, and Huang’s fleet fingers make light of some fearsomely virtuosic accompaniments. At his best, Phan offers some exquisitely calibrated soft singing supported by a rich acoustic an crystal-clear sound” – BBC Music Magazine
“The voice is light, with a slight Schreier-like tang to it and a seductive pianissimo. It is heard at its best in the gentler numbers: he sounds delightfully fresh in the five songs that make up the ‘Knights and Kings’ section. This freshness of approach is matched throughout by the terrific playing of Myra Huang – listen to the bounce she brings to the introduction of ‘Ganymed’ or the brilliant sparkle of Beethoven’s ‘Song of the Flea’” – Gramophone
Fulfilling a life-long fascination with myths and legends, tenor Nicholas Phan pairs with pianist Myra Huang for Gods & Monsters, exploring great Austrian and German Romantic composers’ meditations on the title subjects and their fellow-fantastical creatures such as witches, knights and kings. The wide-ranging programme of songs by Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Schumann and Wolf, will be presented in Phan’s Wigmore Hall recital debut on 26 February 2017.
Tracklist:
•• MOUNT OLYMPUS ••
FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797–2828)
1. An die Leier (4:07)
2. Ganymed (3:53)
3. Atys (4:04)
4. Der Musensohn (1:54)
•• KNIGHTS AND KINGS ••
FRANZ SCHUBERT
5. Der Sänger (6:26)
JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833–1897)
6. Es war ein Markgraf überm Rhein (3:21)
GUSTAV MAHLER (1860–1911)
7. Rheinlegendchen (3:07)
8. Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen (7:13)
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
9. Aus Goethe’s Faust (2:07)
•• THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT ••
FRANZ SCHUBERT
10. Der Zwerg (5:06)
ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810–1856)
11. Waldesgespräch (2:14)
HUGO WOLF (1860–1903)
12. Der Feuerreiter (4:41)
FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847)
13. Hexenlied (2:07)
•• FAIRY TALES ••
ROBERT SCHUMANN
14. Der Sandman (1:53)
HUGO WOLF
15. Der Rattenfänger (2:24)
16. Elfenlied (1:52)
17. Storchenbotschaft (3:50)
•• POSTLUDE ••
JOHANNES BRAHMS
18. Sandmännchen (4:02)
Total duration: 64.27
Nicholas Phan, tenor
Myra Huang, piano
Recording: 8 & 9 August 2016, Skywalker Sound, a Lucasfilm Ltd Company, Marin County, California
Executive producers: Melanne Mueller, Nicholas Phan & Philip Wilder
Producer, engineer, editing, mixing & mastering: Marlan Barry
Technical assistance: Dann Thompson
Related Releases:
