COMPOSERS: Loewe
LABELS: CPO
WORKS: Grosse Sonate in E, Op. 16; Grande sonate élégique in F minor, Op. 32; Le printemps
PERFORMER: Cord Garben (piano), Heidi Wolf (soprano), Dietrich Henschel (baritone)
CATALOGUE NO: 999 355-2
Despite his undeserved neglect, Carl Loewe (1796-1869) was a prolific composer and a songwriter par excellence. He produced nearly as many Lieder as Schubert (the admirable CPO is issuing them in stages on CD) and there were those in his day who considered him the greater composer. His few piano works display the Lieder-writer’s feel for melody and atmosphere, the E major Sonata even accommodating a song for soprano and baritone as its slow movement, and although, deprived of the title, it would be difficult to relate Le printemps to its specific programme, it’s clearly an evocative, rather than an abstract, piece. Pleasant and undemanding repertoire, performed with style and understanding. Wadham Sutton
Loewe: Grosse Sonate in E, Op. 16; Grande sonate élégique in F minor, Op. 32; Le printemps
Despite his undeserved neglect, Carl Loewe (1796-1869) was a prolific composer and a songwriter par excellence. He produced nearly as many Lieder as Schubert (the admirable CPO is issuing them in stages on CD) and there were those in his day who considered him the greater composer.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:40 pm