A consummate storyteller: Thomas Hampson in “Schubert Week” recital in Berlin

Thomas Hampson and Wolfram Rieger perform a selection of Lieder by Schubert and others during Schubert Week in Berlin.

Attention to delivery, effective interpretation and intelligent programming is what make the duo such a consistently beloved force in concert.

Bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, in splendid voice and with great eloquence, traces the development of the Lied from Mozart to Schubert at the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ in Amsterdam.

The duo toss off three encores before breezing off into the night, sending their audience off to their beds, already completely and utterly satisfied. 

In Amsterdam, the Italian opera singer Luca Pisaroni proves he is an outstanding interpreter of Lieder by Liszt.

The baritone Thomas Hampson is a popular figure at the Salzburg Festival, having appeared there regularly since 1988, and at his Lieder recital with pianist Wolfram Rieger at the Haus der Mozart, one sensed a warm rapport between him and the audience. His programme consisted of Schumann’s Liederkreis, Op. 39, Dvořák’s Zigeunermelodien and Mahler’s songs based on the text of Des Knaben Wunderhorn.