Gerhaher launches Oxford Lieder Festival

By Roy Westbrook, 15 October 2016

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“The dreaming spires become singing spires every October”

Reviewed at Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford on 14 October 2016

Dvořák, Biblické písne (Biblical songs), Op.99

Schumann, Drei Gesänge, Op.95

Schumann, Sechs Gedichte und Requiem, Op.90

Schumann, Kerner Lieder, Op.35

Christian Gerhaher, Baritone

Gerold Huber, Piano

Gerhaher and Huber beguile in Schumann at Wigmore Hall

Mark Valencia, 16th December

In the first of four Schumann recitals, the regular duo partners treat a packed Wigmore Hall to a glorious evening of Lieder.

*****

Emotionally compelling Gerhaher and Huber at Wigmore Hall

Nick Boston, 12th February

The German baritone and his frequent recital collaborator perform tragic evocations of insanity in Lenau settings with intense impact.

*****

Lords of all they purvey: Gerhaher and Huber perform Brahms

Mark Valencia, 12th December

The pleasure of Gerhaher’s comforting persona and his instinctive convergence with Huber’s pianism won over the Wigmore Hall audience – as they invariably do.

****1

Live audiences return to Wigmore Hall with Gerhaher and Huber

David Karlin, 13th September

A programme of Schubert and Berg Lieder are sung with ultimate mastery, albeit the programme goes long on melancholy and short on variety.

****1

Polished perfection: Winterreise at the Musikverein

Chanda VanderHart, 18th January

Whether one prefers more raw emotion and large-scale architecture or is thrilled by perfectly sculpted individual masterpieces, this was undeniably chamber music of the highest order.

****1

A Winterreise where the pianist leads the psychological journey

Mark Valencia, 16th January

Huber’s morbid piano here was chilling and pointed the way to a harrowing finale that never quite materialised.

****1

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

Mastery in Schumann: Christian Gerhaher launches Oxford Lieder Festival