Daniel Barenboim – Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte (1979/2018) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

When in 1973 the 22-year-old Daniel Adni first recorded the Songs without Words (as part of a three-LP Mendelssohn recital) he had the field to himself. Nowadays things are rather different, with notable competition coming from the searching Livia Rev, and in sharper contrast, the volatile Daniel Barenboim, whose characterization does yet more to emphasize the variety of the set as a whole.

The obvious difference between the two Daniels is choice of tempo. Almost always, and so often in blander contexts, Adni favours a more leisurely approach, robbing his phrasing of an element of longer forward flow, and causing several Andante numbers to outstay their welcome since he includes every repeat. The three delightful gondola songs are certainly too static to convey the liquidity of water. And he surely takes too solemn a view of the engaging Duet at the end of Book 2, marked Andante con moto. Conversely, I sometimes thought Barenboim just a shade too hasty for the music’s good, not just in agitato contexts but also in a piece such as the meditative D major Adagio in the final book. Yet there is always a stronger sense of motivation behind his spontaneous phrasing, and always his melody sings and soars in response to the connotation of Mendelssohn’s title.

All that said, there is much that is very pleasing in Adni’s self-effacing, caring, truly serious musicianship. As I remarked when the record first emerged, such emotional as well as pianistic composure is not encountered every day of the week from one so young. And the round, mellow warmth of his tone is never for a moment in doubt in this very clear, albeit close, recording.’ (Gramophone)

“. . . captivating. His playing is beautifully scaled, with a fine sense of Mendelssohnian intimacy . . .” (Nigel Simeone , International Record Review)

Tracklist:
1. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.19 : No.1 In E (Andante con moto), MWV U 86 – “Sweet Remembrance” 03:08
2. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.19 : No. 2 In A Minor (Andante espressivo), MWV U 80 02:20
3. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.19 : No.3 In A (Molto allegro), MWV U 89 – “Hunting Song” 02:09
4. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.19 : No. 4 In A (Moderato), MWV U 73 02:01
5. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.19 : No. 5 In F Sharp Minor (Agitato), MWV U 90 – “Restlessness” 03:01
6. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.19 : No. 6 In G Minor (Andante sostenuto), MWV U 78 – “Venetian Gondola Song” 01:52
7. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.30 : No. 1. Andante espressivo In E Flat, MWV U 103 04:22
8. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.30 : No. 2. Allegro di molto In B Flat Minor, MWV U 77 01:55
9. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.30 : No. 3. Andante sostenuto in E, MWV U 104 – “Consolation” 02:15
10. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.30 : No. 4. Agitato e con fuoco In B Minor, MWV U 98 02:31
11. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.30 : No. 5. Andante grazioso In D, MWV U 97 01:37
12. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.30 : No. 6. Allegretto In F Sharp Minor, MWV U 110 – “Venetian Gondola Song” 02:57
13. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.38 : No. 1. Con moto In E Flat, MWV U 121 02:38
14. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.38 : No. 2. Allegro non troppo In C Minor, MWV U 115 – “Lost Happiness” 01:53
15. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.38 : No. 3. Presto In E, MWV U 107 – “La harpe du poète” 02:12
16. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.38 : No. 4. Andante In A, MWV U 120 02:25
17. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.38 : No. 5. Agitato In A Minor, MWV U 137 – “Appassionata” 02:15
18. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.38 : No. 6. Andante Con Moto In A Flat, MWV U 119 – “Duetto” 02:16
19. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.53 : No. 1. Andante con moto In A Flat, MWV U 143 03:22
20. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.53 : No. 2. Allegro non troppo In E Flat, MWV U 109 – “The Fleecy Cloud” 02:38
21. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.53 : No. 3. Presto agitato In G Minor, MWV U 144 02:28
22. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.53 : No. 4. Adagio In F, MWV U 114 – “Sadness of Soul” 02:22
23. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.53 : No. 5. Allegro In A Minor, MWV U 153 – “Folk-Song” 02:46
24. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.53 : No. 6. Molto allegro vivace In A, MWV U 154 – “La fuite” 02:32
25. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.62 : No. 1 Andante Espressivo In G, MWV U 185 01:56
26. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.62 : No. 2 Allegro con fuoco in B flat, MWV U 181 01:35
27. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.62 : No. 3 Andante maestoso in E minor, MWV U 177 – “Funeral March” 02:47
28. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.62 : No. 4 Allegro con anima in G, MWV U 175 – “Morning Song” 01:21
29. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.62 : No. 5 Andante In A Minor, MWV U 151 – “Venetian Gondola Song” 02:49
30. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.62 : No. 6 Andante Grazioso In A, MWV U 161 – “Spring Song” 02:06
31. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.67 : No. 1. Andante in E flat, MWV U 180 02:23
32. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.67 : No. 2. Allegro leggiero In F Sharp Minor, MWV U 145 – “Lost Illusions” 02:07
33. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.67 : No. 3. Andante tranquillo in B flat, MWV U 102 02:41
34. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.67 : No. 4. Presto In C, MWV U 182 – “Spinning Song” 01:53
35. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.67 : No. 5. Moderato In B Minor, MWV U 184 – “The Shepherd’s Complaint” 02:09
36. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.67 : No. 6. Allegro non troppo in E, MWV U 188 – “Cradle Song” 02:10
37. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.85 : No. 1. Andante espressivo in F, MWV U 189 02:25
38. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.85 : No. 2. Allegro agitato in A minor “Adieu” 00:56
39. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.85 : No. 3. Presto in E flat, MWV U 111 02:20
40. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.85 : No. 4. Andante sostenuto in D, MWV U 190 – “Elegy” 02:50
41. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.85 : No. 5. Allegretto in A, MWV U 191 01:48
42. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.85 : No. 6. Allegretto con moto in B flat, MWV U 155 01:57
43. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.102 : No. 1. Andante un poco agitato in E minor, MWV U 162 03:09
44. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.102 : No. 2. Adagio in D, MWV U 192 02:13
45. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.102 : No. 3. Presto in C, MWV U 195 – “Tarantelle” 01:16
46. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.102 : No. 4. Un poco agitato in G minor, MWV U 152 – “The Sighing Wind” 02:16
47. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.102 : No. 5. Allegro vivace in A, MWV U 194 – “The Joyous Peasant” 01:04
48. Lieder ohne Worte, Op.102 : No. 6. Andante In C, MWV U 172 – “Belief” 02:31
49. 6 Kinderstücke op.72 : 1. Allegro non troppo, MWV U 171 00:59
50. 6 Kinderstücke op.72 : 2. Andante sostenuto, MWV U 170 01:46
51. 6 Kinderstücke op.72 : 3. Allegretto, MWV U 164 00:56
52. 6 Kinderstücke op.72 : 4. Andante con moto, MWV U 169 01:47
53. 6 Kinderstücke op.72 : 5. Allegro assai, MWV U 166 01:31
54. 6 Kinderstücke op.72 : 6. Vivace, MWV U 168 01:27
55. Gondellied (Barcarolle) in A major (1837) : Allegretto non troppo, MWV U 136 02:31
56. 2 Klavierstucke : 1. Andante cantabile, MWV U 93 03:07
57. 2 Klavierstucke : 2. Presto agitato, MWV U 94 02:30
58. Albumblatt In E Minor, Op.117, MWV U134 04:47