An exciting CD project which spans genres, shedding new light on the music of Robert Schumann and the poetry of Heinrich Heine.
In honor of Heinrich Heine’s 220th birthday, baritone Klemens Sander actor Cornelius Obonya are releasing a new program on CD, presenting for the very first time Das Lyrische Intermezzo in its entirety, through text and music.
SCHUMANN‘S «DICHTERLIEBE» FROM A COMPLETELY NEW PERSPECTIVE
Das Lyrische Intermezzo is an exciting mix of Heinrich Heine’s often bitterly ironic texts, enthrallingly recited by Cornelius Obonya, and Robert Schumann’s songs from Dichterliebe and other Heine settings. These songs, which range from the dreamlike to the idealistically romantic, are interpreted by Klemens Sander (baritone) and Uta Sander (piano).
CORNELIUS OBONYA ON «DAS LYRISCHE INTERMEZZO»
„It is an exciting aspect of this CD project to hear the texts and the music at the same time. It is actually very rare to really absorb the cynicism, or also the unbelievable ability to love; the ability of a man to suffer who is desperate for a woman or indeed the capacity of a woman to hurt when despairing over a man. And yet this s a remarkable journey through a world of feelings, though a dark, strange, confusing forest from which one never really returns. Just like with love. I think this is exactly the reason why we wanted to do this. I believe that you have experienced this – we have all experienced this – and there were artists, thank heavens, that put pen to paper in music, in manuscripts and in books. We want to take these two old, archaic – yet modern- boys, Schumann and Heine, and bring them closer to an audience and to you.“
KLEMENS SANDER on «DAS LYRISCHE INTERMEZZO»
„Schumann’s Dichterliebe has accompanied me throughout my life as a singer. I even met my wife with Dichterliebe, it was the first thing we sang and played together. In a way these songs didn’t just bring Robert and Clara Schumann together, but the two of us as well! Dichterliebe is special for me; even today, nearly 20 years later, I discover something new about it every time I sing it in concert. That was the reason I was so interested in bringing Schumann’s settings back to their roots, directly back to the Lyrische Intermezzo from which Schumann chose his texts, and exploring other song settings from the same collection. Upon spending time with the poems and their settings, I was excited to discover that there are endless numbers of facets to explore in the Lyrische Intermezzo. By combining the poetry and songs, a completely new story unfolds, and one lives, suffer and gets caught up in the tale, even if it the does not end well for the lovers. 65 poems – one would imagine that this would make for a long concert and an even a longer CD – but this is absolutely not the case. The juxtaposition of Heine’s poetry and Schumann’s lieder makes for a captivating experience in every way, and it is truly an adventure to open oneself up to this completely new tale.“