Franz Schubert ""Erlkönig" (orchestral arrangement by Berlioz) Thomas Allen, baritone London Philharmonic Orchestra Charles Mackerras, conductor London, Royal Albert Hall, 21 August 1997
Bravo! Bravísimo. Thanks. Excellente Sir Thomas Allen. Goethe. English translation below. Who rides so late through night and the wind? It is the father and his child. He has the boy in his arms He holds him safely and keeps him warm. "My son, why are you hiding your face like that?" "Father, don't you see the Elfking? The Elfking with a crown and a tail?" "My son, it's just the fog." "Come, dear child, come with me! I'll play lovely games with you; There are some colorful flowers on the beach, And my mother has some golden garments." 'My father, my father! Don't you hear What the Elfking is promising me?' "Be calm, be calm, my child; It's just the wind rustling in the leaves." "Do you want to come with me, dear boy? My daughters will wait on you; My daughters will lead a dance, And rock you, dance you and sing you to sleep." "My father, my father! Don't you see them? The Elfking's daughters in that eerie place?" "My son, my son, yes, I see it clearly: It's just old gray willows shimmering." "I love you, you're beautiful!; If you don't come willingly, I'll use force!" "My father, my father, he's grabbing me! The Elfking is hurting me!" It horrifies the father, but he rides on, He holds the moaning child in his arms, With effort and trouble, he reaches his farm, But In his arms, the child was DEAD!!
I have to admit, my favorite recording of this belongs to Bryn Terfel (I like his softer yet creepy voicing of the Erlkonig a little better) but the intensity of the father and son by Thomas Allen gave me chills. I'm giving my debut of this song in a few months and it just makes me feel so privileged to give my interpretation of it after listening to the masters do it!
@drtmuir @drtmuir Oh glad to hear you like it:) This was an interesting programme, because I don't think these orchestral arrangements are performed very often. Allen sang four more songs (orchestrated by Brahms) that evening and before you ask, I am going to upload them :)
Very good, Thomas Allen is legendary, love it - However, I don't know if the dramatic sound needed to cut over the orchestra does justice to the subtleties possible between the characters - on the other hand, it saves a pianist from carpel tunnel ;)
Thanks for giving me an opportunity to hear this version. It's interesting, but I'll always prefer the Schubert piano and voice version. Schubert's accompaniment implies everything already, and full orchestration only gilds the lily.
@interpreterr Well of course, "Friday" is an inside joke for un-serious listeners; whereas, Thomas Allen's work is to be savored like fine wine. I recently read a review that compared Nelson Eddy to Bastianini, etc. You might put this close to the same vein as comparing numbers for Rebecca Blacks "Friday" to Mr. Allen's impeccable work. A REAL Singer.
I don't know if it's just me, but I find it criminal that whilst Rebecca Black's 'Friday' gets over thirty million views, this doesn't even get five thousand!
Interesting, the transposition brings the song to a whole new dimension, sung by a baritone when transposed, it gives the song much more intensity than a tenor.
@drtmuir I lke that Mareillaise arrangement too. I've got a CD of Ben Heppner singing various French arias (and a great CD it is) and Berlioz's Marseillase is one of the highlights.
Lovely post! Glad to see you back and uploading! =) Never seen the pictures here before as well...and if I'm not mistaken, isn't the suit that Sir Tom's wearing exactly the same one he wore at the Prom at the Palace in 2002?
Un grande brano cantato da un grande cantante, che ho avuto l'onore di avere a casa mia (il libretto di Messiah di Handel che ho è stato da lui autografato). Peccato che l'arrangiatore, Berlioz, non è dei miei preferiti (anzi non mi piace proprio), ma pazienza. Inoltre in questo caso è stato geniale come arrangiamento.
- because Pavarotti was not a Lieder singer (as has already been mentioned) - more importantly, because Pavarotti was a tenor. this piece the dark, sinister of a baritone. a pretty lyric tenor voice is just not going to do it justice
Fair point I suppose, though I didn't intend to compare the two pieces of music - that conclusion is all to obvious. Rather I meant that it is a great shame that the wealth of classical music available to the listener remains so under acknowledged.
I like the performance Allen does, however some of his diction was off. If you are going to sing schubert, you must get the pronunciation right =S I would recommend looking up Dieskaus performance, it's the best one on youtube. On another noht I did enjoy listening to the symphony, but it sort of takes away the effect the piano has as being the galloping horse.
