Vanitas - Schubert, Beethoven & Rihm Georg Nigl & Olga Pashchenko

• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828):
• 1 Im Freien, D. 880 06:19
• 2 Die Sommernacht, D. 289 03:20
• 3 Die Taubenpost, D. 965A 03:47
• 4 Die Forelle, D. 550 02:16
• 5 Der Wanderer an den Mond, D. 870 02:33
• 6 Das Zügenglöcklein, D. 871 04:46
• 7 Abendstern, D. 806 02:28
• 8 Fischerweise, D. 881 02:57
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827):
• 9 An die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98 16:09
• Wolfgang Rihm (b. 1952): Vermischter Traum:
• 10 Vermischter Traum: I. Majestoso sostenuto 01:00
• 11 Vermischter Traum: II. Andante 01:43
• 12 Vermischter Traum: III. Grave, ma non troppo 05:36
• 13 Vermischter Traum: IV. Andante 01:31
• 14 Vermischter Traum: V. Lento, ma non troppo 05:37
• 15 Vermischter Traum: VI. Andante 01:27
• 16 Vermischter Traum: VII. Con moto, appassionato 03:40
• Franz Schubert:
• 17 Der Winterabend, D. 938 08:45
• 18 Die Sterne, D. 939 03:34
• 19 An die Musik, D. 547 02:44
• 20 Wandrers Nachtlied, D. 768 02:18
• 21 Erlafsee, D. 586 (Bonus Track) 05:03
• 22 Abschied, D. 475 (Bonus Track) 05:50
• Total Runtime 01:33:23

Info for Vanitas - Schubert, Beethoven & Rihm

Like the paintings of the Flemish Baroque painters, the ‘vanities’ presented here can be approached in two ways: on the one hand, as manifestations of doubts and anxieties at the fragility of human life; on the other, as delights to be savoured without moderation, celebrating earthly life through the senses and the pleasure that human beings can derive from them.

After two critically acclaimed recordings each for Alpha, the baritone Georg Nigl and the pianist Olga Pashchenko explore the tortuous meanders of the human soul with vocal works by Schubert (an ‘existentialist’ composer if ever there was one), Beethoven (whose torments hardly need stressing) and the contemporary composer Wolfgang Rihm, whose highly expressionistic Jakob Lenz (ALPHA717) Nigl performed on stage in 2019. His piece Vermischter Traum, here given its world premiere, is dedicated to the Austrian singer.

"Nigl’s performance is beautifully controlled, suave almost; his soft-grained voice wraps itself easily around Rihm’s smoothly contoured vocal lines...There’s an easy familiarity about their Schubert performances, an almost private intimacy in which nothing is overstated...it’s a thoughtful, rewarding collection." (The Guardian)

Georg Nigl, baritone
Olga Pashchenko, piano

Georg Nigl
Whether with his celebrated Wozzeck at La Scala or his interpretations of the Bach cantatas with Luca Pianca, Georg Nigl consistently inspires audiences and press with his passionate, authentic performances. His profound, comprehensive engagement with the musical work, his close connection with spoken theater with its accompanying emphasis on text and rhetoric, and his expressive stage acting have made Georg Nigl into one of the most celebrated baritones worldwide.

Georg Nigl’s close connection to music began in childhood when he performed on important stages as a soprano soloist with the Wiener Sängerknaben. His studies with Kammersängerin Hilde Zadek gave him further important inspiration for his forthcoming career.

Due to his talent for giving roles individual character through his voice and expression, he has performed at all the important opera houses. He has appeared at the Bolshoi Theater Moscow, the Staatsoper Berlin, the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the Nederlandse Opera Amsterdam, and the Théatre de La Monnaie in Brussels as well as at festivals such as the Salzburger Festspiele, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, the Ruhrtriennale and the Wiener Festwochen. He has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Teodor Currentzis, Valery Gergiev, Daniel Harding, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, René Jacobs, Kent Nagano, and Kirill Petrenko, and with directors such as Andrea Breth, Romeo Castellucci, Frank Castorf, Hans Neuenfels, Johan Simons, Dmitri Tcherniakov, and Sasha Waltz.

Georg Nigl has won special recognition not only by performing numerous world premieres, but also by serving as an inspiration for or taking part in initiating the creation of compositions and publications by artists such as Friedrich Cerha, Pascal Dusapin, Georg Friedrich Haas, Wolfgang Mitterer, Olga Neuwirth and Wolfgang Rihm.

Georg Nigl’s chamber music repertoire covers a broad spectrum from baroque to Viennese classicism to contemporary music. He frequently performs with Alexander Melnikov, Andreas Staier and Gérard Wyss. His newest recording “Bach privat” has been awarded a Diapason d’or in November 2017.

Highlights of season 2018/19 included Papageno at the Théatre de la Monnaie in Brussels, the title part in Monteverdi’s „Orfeo“ and the world premire of Beat Furrer’s „Violetter Schnee“ at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, the title role in Mozart’s „Le Nozze di Figaro“ at the Hamburgische Staatsoper as well as Don Alfonso in „Cosi fan tutte“ at the Staatsoper Stuttgart, a tremendous success with „Lenz“ at the Aix-en-Provence Festival, and his acclaimed interpretation of Pilate in St. John Passion under Sir Simon Rattle in the legendary staging of Peter Sellars with the Berlin Philharmonic and on tour with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

His 2019/20 season begins with a recital at the Salzburg Festival (Dusapin: „O Mensch“) and further includes the title role in the world premiere of Pascal Dusapin’s new opera „Macbeth Underworld“ at the Théatre de La Monnaie in Brussels, a recital at the Musikfest Berlin including the world premiere of Wolfgang Rihm’s new song cycle „Vermischter Traum“ dedicated to him, the title role in Trojahn’s „Orest“ at the Wiener Staatsoper, a revival of Furrer’s „Violetter Schnee“ at the Berlin Staatsoper as well as concerts and recitals in cities including Vienna, Munich, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. He is ending his season with Don Alfonso in „Cosi fan tutte“ (Tcherniakov / Hengelbrock) at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.

For his interpretation of Wolfgang Rihm’s Lenz Georg Nigl has been awarded the „Singer of the Year 2015“ award by the magazine Opernwelt.

This album contains no booklet.