Stephan Loges & Eugene Asti

Both of tonight’s artists are by now well-known to Oxford Lieder audiences, and it is a great pleasure as always to welcome them back. Their programme tonight ties in perfectly with both the Eichendorff anniversary that has been celebrated throughout the Festival and our occasional Spanish flavour.

Those who heard the secular songs of Wolf’s wonderful Spanisches Liederbuch on Thursday 18th will doubtless also be keen to hear some of the remaining songs in the “sacred” group. These are followed by Jacques Ibert’s setting of four texts from Don Quichotte. Ibert (1890 – 1962) was a French composer of “light” music who also wrote a number of film scores, including Orson Welles’ Macbeth. His music is rarely heard today, but deserves more exposure for it contains many charming melodies and witty characteristics.

A group of Brahms settings of Eichendorff begin the second half, which is rounded off with Schumann’s mysterious and powerful set of twelve songs by the same poet. This magnificent cycle includes many of Schumann’s most popular songs, including Waldesgespräch – a lonely, latenight encounter with the seductive but deadly Lorelei – Mondnacht – surely one of the most evocative and atmospheric of all songs – and Frühlingsnacht, where, in the beautiful moonlight of a spring evening, the nightingale joyously calls, “She is yours”. A superlative programme from two exceptional artists!

Eduard Grieg (1843 - 1907)

Lauf der Welt Op. 48, no.3 (Ludwig Uhland: 1787 - 1862)
Das alte Lied Op. 4, no. 5 (Heinrich Heine: 1797 - 1856)
Abschied Op. 4, no. 3 (Heine)
Dereinst, Gedanke mein Op. 4, no. 2 (Emanuel von Geibel: 1815 - 1884)
Zur Rosenziet Op. 48, no. 5 (1749 - 1832)
Ein Traum Op. 48, no. 6 (Friedrich von Bodenstedt: 1819 - 1892)

Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903)

Spanisches Liederbuch (selected songs)

Nun wandre Maria
Ach, wie lang die Seele schlummert
Herr, was trägt die Boden hier
Auf den grünen Balkon
Alle gingen, Herz, zur Ruh
Ach, im Maien war's

Jacques Ibert (1890 - 1962)

Quatre Chansons de Don Quichotte

Chanson du départ de Don Quichotte (Pierre de Ronsard: 1524 - 1585)
Chanson a Dulcinée (Alexandre Arnoux: 1884 - 1873)
Chanson du duc (Arnoux)
Chanson de la mort de Don Quichotte (Arnoux)

INTERVAL

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

In der Fremde Op. 3, no. 5 (Josef von Eichendorff: 1788 - 1857)
Mondnacht WoO. 21 (Eichendorff)
Parole Op. 7, no. 2 (Eichendorff)

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

Liederkreis Op. 39 (Joseph von Eichendorff: 1788 - 1857)

i. In der Fremde
ii. Intermezzo
iii. Waldesgespräch
iv. Die Stille
v. Mondnacht
vi. Schöne Fremde
vii. Auf einer Burg
viii. In der Fremde
ix. Wehmut
x. Zwielicht
xi. Im Walde
xii. Frühlingsnacht