Olaf Bär and Camillo Radicke

"One of the noblest baritones in the Lieder field..."
The Independent

Olaf Bär’s last visit to the Festival in 2005 was without doubt one of the highlights of Oxford Lieder’s history to date, and not a recital that anyone present will ever forget. One of the world’s finest baritones, Olaf Bär is especially renowned for his appearances on the song platform. He is joined by pianist Camillo Radicke, who has played with many leading orchestras and conductors and works regularly with Olaf Bär and other singers including Peter Schreier and Juliana Banse.

Their programme begins with a group of songs by Robert Franz, a wonderful romantic composer whose music was greatly admired by Schumann but is only now regaining recognition. These songs, as well as those of Pfitzner and Wolf in the second half of the concert, are settings of the poet Josef von Eichendorff in his anniversary year. Schumann’s Dichterliebe is, justly, one of the most popular works in the entire song repertoire. From the opening notes and the famous words “Im wunderschönen Monat Mai” (“in the wonderful month of May”), this is Schumann at his most lyrical and imaginative, setting one of his favourite poets, Heinrich Heine. This concert is not to be missed, and early booking is strongly recommended!

Robert Franz (1815 - 1892)

Settings of Joseph von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)

Sonntag

Möcht wissen, was sie schlagen

Romanze

Ich wandre durch die stille Nacht

Jagdlied

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

Dichterliebe, op.48 (Heinrich Heine: 1797 - 1856)

i. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai

ii. Aus meinen Tränen spriessen

iii. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne

iv. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh'

v. Ich will meine Seele tauchen

vi. Im Rhein, im schönen Strome

vii. Ich grolle nicht, und wenn das Herz auch bricht

viii. Und wüßten's die Blumen, die kleinen

ix. Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen

x. Hör' ich das Liedchen klingen

xi. Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen

xii. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen

xiii. Ich hab' im Traum geweinet

xiv. Allnächtlich im Traume seh' ich dich

xv. Aus alten Märchen winkt es

xvi. Die alten, bösen Lieder

INTERVAL

Hans Pfitzner (1869 - 1949)

Fünf Lieder, op. 9 (Joseph von Eichendorff)

Der Gärtner

Die Einsame

Im Herbst

Der Kühne

Abschied

Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903)

Settings of Joseph von Eichendorff

Der Musikant

Verschwiegene Liebe

Das Ständchen

Der Soldat I

Der Soldat II

Der Scholar

Erwartung

Nachtzauber

Liebesglück