Work: Italienisches Liederbuch (Italian Songbook)

Gansch and Martineau fail to dazzle in an unchallenging programme of bucolic and playful Lieder.

They whistle, they compose, they parody and they certainly can play. If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then Amarcord Wien are kings of their realm.

The evening began on a fun note: Juliane Banse’s voice rang out in a pre-recorded message, reminding the audience that as far as she knew, cell phones and classical music did not generally mix. After a community chuckle, the audience applauded Banse, Bo Skovhus and Helmut Deutsch onto the stage, and then settled back into its seats for an evening of Hugo Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch.