Blumenlieder
Two discs of Robert Stolz’s charming, if lightweight Flower [Song] Songs, which are given pleasingly different interpretations
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Robert Stolz
Label: CPO
Magazine Review Date: 10/2000
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 64
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CPO999728-2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Motto |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Vergissmeinnicht (Forget-me-not) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Klatschrose (Chatter poppy) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Primel (Primrose) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Veilchen (Violets) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Lilie (Lily) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Herbstzeitlosen (Autumn crocuses) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Edelweiss |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Rebenblüte (Grape blossom) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Fingerhut (Foxglove) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Kunstblume (Artificial flower) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Rittersporn (Larkspur) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Stiefmütterchen (Pansy) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Sonnenblume (Sunflower) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Feuernelken (Fireballs) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Schneeglöckchen (Snowdrops) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Todesblume (Death's flower) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Orakelblume (Daisy - Oracle flower) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Rote Rose (Red Rose) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Myrthe (Myrtle) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Kornblumen (Cornflowers) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Die Kaktusblüte (The Cactus Flower) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Es blüht eine Rose zur Weihnachtszeit |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Träume unterm Christbaum |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
| Ave Maria |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Dagmar Schellenberger, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer Shelley Katz, Piano |
Composer or Director: Robert Stolz
Label: Dabringhaus und Grimm
Magazine Review Date: 10/2000
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 61
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: MDG 641 0980-2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Der Fingerhut (The Foxglove) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Das Veilchen (The Violet) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Die Lilie (The Lily) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Samt und Seide - Die Kunstblume (Velvet and Silk -l Flowers) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Die Kaktusblüte (The Cactus Flower) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Rote Rose (Red Rose) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Die Rebenblüte (The Fruit of the Vine) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Anemonen (Anemones) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Das Vergissmeinnicht (The Forget-me-not) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Schneeglöckchen (Snowdrop) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Herbstzeitlosen (Meadow-Saffrons) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Das Stiefmütterchen (The Pansy) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Weisse Orchideen (White Orchids) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Himmels Schlüssel - Die Primel (The Primerose) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Die Todesblume (The Flower of Death) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Kornblumen (Cornflowers) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Motto: Blumen blühen überall (Flowers blossom) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Blumen schenken (Offering Flowers) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Die Marguerite - Orakelblume (Daisy - Oracle Flowe |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Die Flieder (The lilac) |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Blumenlieder, Movement: Das Edelweiss |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Pierrot, komm, trag mich nach Haus |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Servus, du! |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
| Spiel auf deiner Geige das Lied von Leid und Lust |
Robert Stolz, Composer
Ansi Verwey, Piano Brigitte Lindner, Soprano Robert Stolz, Composer |
Author: Andrew Lamb
Operetta and film composer of the inter-war years, Robert Stolz has a highly active publicity machine that has proved immensely successful in promoting his music and recordings of it. Hence, no doubt, the simultaneous appearance of two recordings of these 20 Flower Songs published originally in 1928.
Being an excursion into art song, it is, of course, highly atypical of Stolz’s output. I suppose a parallel could be drawn with Franz Lehar, some of whose more serious song compositions have appeared on a couple of CPO discs (both 11/98). I can’t say that Stolz’s cycle has the same intensity as Lehar’s more dramatic songs, or the sweetness of his more popular ones. There are some bursts of real inspiration, for instance in the lilting slow waltz ‘Oracle Flower’ or the capricious ‘Foxglove’, about a dwarf whose little wife uses the foxglove as a thimble while darning his trousers. Mostly these are pleasant enough settings of little flower anecdotes, built on the theme (set out in an additional song) that ‘flowers are not soulless, but are secret beings’.
Where CPO offers the cycle in its original 1928 form, Dabringhaus und Grimm uses a revised version that Stolz sanctioned when he was in his nineties. The music is unchanged, but the songs are moved around and the words are in some cases completely new. As for the performances, both sopranos are attractive to listen to, but the approaches to the music are very different. Lindner and Verwey provide a much more outgoing, heart-on-the-sleeve approach, whereas Schellenberger and Katz are more quietly reflective, seeking to bring out the poetry and subtlety of the settings.
The fillers match these contrasted moods. CPO adds one of the songs in its later version and a further three more serious songs, whereas D & G goes for three encores in more familiar Stolz style. This helps attract me to the D & G compilation; but those with a more poetic streak or who prefer to hear the verses for which the music was conceived may well favour the CPO, which also includes English translations of the lyrics.'
Being an excursion into art song, it is, of course, highly atypical of Stolz’s output. I suppose a parallel could be drawn with Franz Lehar, some of whose more serious song compositions have appeared on a couple of CPO discs (both 11/98). I can’t say that Stolz’s cycle has the same intensity as Lehar’s more dramatic songs, or the sweetness of his more popular ones. There are some bursts of real inspiration, for instance in the lilting slow waltz ‘Oracle Flower’ or the capricious ‘Foxglove’, about a dwarf whose little wife uses the foxglove as a thimble while darning his trousers. Mostly these are pleasant enough settings of little flower anecdotes, built on the theme (set out in an additional song) that ‘flowers are not soulless, but are secret beings’.
Where CPO offers the cycle in its original 1928 form, Dabringhaus und Grimm uses a revised version that Stolz sanctioned when he was in his nineties. The music is unchanged, but the songs are moved around and the words are in some cases completely new. As for the performances, both sopranos are attractive to listen to, but the approaches to the music are very different. Lindner and Verwey provide a much more outgoing, heart-on-the-sleeve approach, whereas Schellenberger and Katz are more quietly reflective, seeking to bring out the poetry and subtlety of the settings.
The fillers match these contrasted moods. CPO adds one of the songs in its later version and a further three more serious songs, whereas D & G goes for three encores in more familiar Stolz style. This helps attract me to the D & G compilation; but those with a more poetic streak or who prefer to hear the verses for which the music was conceived may well favour the CPO, which also includes English translations of the lyrics.'
Stolz Blumenlieder, Op.500
Blumenlieder
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