Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Alma Mahler, Gustav Mahler, Charlie Chaplin, Robert Hall Lewis, Angelika Kirchschlager, Helmut Deutsch - Angelika Kirchschlager - Debut Recital Recording / Helmut Deutsch

Luckily, the current profusion of mezzo-sopranos doesn't leave one jaded to talented newcomers such as Angelika Kirchschalger. Besides looking like a fashion model, this young Austrian singer has a voice of such lustrous perfection that she would be as boring as Olga Borodina sometimes is were there not such an interesting musical intelligence at work. The program is all rarities and far less daunting than it appears. The Mahler songs are early, folk influenced pieces; though they have their dark edges, they aren't nearly as neurotic as some of his later work. Songs by his wife, Alma Maria Schindler-Mahler, reflect a highly adventurous musical spirit who had yet to find her individual voice. The Op. 38 Korngold songs remind us of the complex harmonic language toward which both composers were headed. Kirchschlager is close to ideal, and her German is flawless. More surprising, so is her English in the premiere recording of Korngold's disarmingly straightforward Songs of the Clown inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Kirchschlager sings alternately with soaring rapture and hearty good humor. --David Patrick Stearns Amazon.com

Angelika the Angel

I am not a musicologist, but this CD by Miss Kirscschlager makes me want to listen to it over and over, especially the Korngold songs as I am a big Erich Wolfgang Korngold fan. January 27, 2007

Kirchschlager album is terrific

Angelika Kirchschlager recently gave a wonderful recital at Tully Hall in NY - all Schubert and Wolf. It was one of the best events of the year. Her musicianship, wonderful sound of her voice, and personality made this a truly memorable recital, and this disc is highly recommended, especially if you do not know this singer. February 5, 2004

Lustrous singing

This is a wonderful CD in every way. The programming is unified yet uniquely interesting, with both the tried-and-true (Gustav Mahler songs) and the completely new (some Korngold and Alma Mahler songs). The recorded sound is excellent, with a perfect balance between soloist and piano accompaniment. Most of all, Kirchschlager's singing is simply outstanding -- she has a gleaming mezzo-soprano voice, and she is particularly good and idiomatic in the German-language songs, capturing the feeling of fin-de-siecle Vienna as few singers could.

Although I also like Kirchschlager's lullabies CD ("When Night Falls"), this is the recording I keep coming back to for repeated listening. I think I've played it over 50 times now! January 15, 2001

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