Harnoncourt: Mendelssohn, Wagner, Schumann album review revelatory readings from the late revolutionary

"The Tannhauser Overture is quite a different matter. To a certain extent, Harnoncourt takes a Wagner-lite approach, with gossamer textures rooted in Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, a comparison that the antisemitic Wagner would surely have loathed. Purists might balk, but it's one of the silkiest and most detailed of readings, for those curious about the actual notes on the page, it's illuminating."

"The Tristan Prelude is in a similar vein, especially its weightless opening, but while Harnoncourt scrapes the historical barnacles from Wagner's radical harmonies, he never skimps on the music's emotional thrust. It's crowned by Violeta Urmana—yes, a mezzo-soprano—in a breathtaking account of the Liebestod. Not only is her tone luxurious, but every word is sublimely clear."

"Schumann's rarely performed Requiem fur Mignon, an 11-minute secular work for soloists, choir and orchestra on themes of grief and solace, rounds the concert off in style. The music is interspersed with Harnoncourt's erudite commentaries, including a section-by-section take on Mendelssohn's overture."

This newly released live recording from the 1999 Styriarte festival showcases Nikolaus Harnoncourt's distinctive interpretive approach to Wagner, Mendelssohn, and Schumann. The program opens with Mendelssohn's Die Schone Melusine, featuring resolute strings and dramatic woodwind interventions. Harnoncourt's reading of the Tannhauser Overture employs gossamer textures reminiscent of Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, stripping away historical accretions while maintaining emotional intensity. The Tristan Prelude similarly combines weightless textures with radical harmonic clarity. Violeta Urmana delivers a breathtaking Liebestod with luxurious tone and crystalline diction. Schumann's rarely performed Requiem fur Mignon concludes the concert. Harnoncourt's erudite German-language commentaries provide analytical insights throughout the performance.

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