LIEDER ALIVE! Recording Project Reviews
Estrellita
“This is a disc to cherish, a mix of the well-known and the “why haven’t I heard his before?”. Rayo and Grünberg have chosen their repertoire carefully, and lavish love, experience and wisdom upon it. Rayo is a star…Grünberg is the perfect collaborative pianist. Superb. ” —Colin Clarke, Fanfare
“we would do well to celebrate the CD’s artists, two US West Coast-based musicians: Esther Rayo, a dramatic soprano voice, accompanied by Sydney-born pianist, Peter Grunberg, who clearly holds the piano part here to be a voice in its own right. Sometimes shimmering, as if in the world of Ravel, or at other times with all the ease of a cabaret song, the piano emerges on this album as belonging to the centre of the stage. Yet it is Esther Rayo’s voice which leads this CD of seduction… an instrument able to switch between the sighs of the song, El majo celeso (“From the lovely person I’m falling for”) to the painful, fatal love of La maja dolorosa(The Sorrowful Woman) by Enrique Granados… it was as if music had the power to take me to another dimension. The CD, a firm recommendation.” —Stuart Millson, The Brazen Head
“Rayo is a first-rate exponent of this material—to my knowledge, there hasn’t been a Spanish song recital of this caliber in a long time. ” —Huntley Dent, Fanfare
“…one of the best song recitals in recent memory, as enjoyable as it is revelatory. ” —Dominic Hartley, Fanfare
“Rayo and Grünberg offer dazzling performances here. As in the master’s canvases and engravings, the musical palette recreates the painter’s imagination.… The pianist also handles with skill the various pauses in the narration, as well as the abundant trills, worthy of Domenico Scarlatti.… Esther Rayo’s interpretation is luminous, always in tune with the language of each composer… Pianist Peter Grünberg is an inspired companion, who brings true authenticity to these pieces. Recorded by sound engineer Matt Carr at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, in Belvedere (opposite the wide San Francisco Bay), California, United States, offer a close and intimate sound and a perfect balance.” —Juan Carlos Tellechea, Mundo Clasico
In Meinem Himmel
“Grafilo’s sensitivity to Mahler actually comes through particularly well…. Much credit for their expressive impact goes to mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich, who is equally adept with the lilt of parts of Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen; the quiet anguish of most of Kindertotenlieder; and the explosive beginning and middle of the latter cycle’s final song, In diesem Wetter. Scharich feels as well as sings the music….the singing and emotion here are first-rate, and the Alexander String Quartet is excellent throughout, supporting Scharich when called for, interacting with her when the music so requires, and providing contrast to her vocalizing when that is appropriate. Grafilo’s arrangements almost always lie well on the instruments (no small feat), and…anyone who loves and appreciates the music should easily hear the respect reflected both in the instrumentation here and in the singing….[this] is a version that is very much worth having.” — InfoDad Reviews (Dec. 2018, FCL 2019 In meinem Himmel)
“Zakarias Grafilo, violinist with the Alexander String Quartet, has transcribed these wonderful song cycles, saying that he ‘Wanted to recreate some of the aural colours from the orchestral instrumentation while maintaining the intimacy of the piano version. I also wanted to integrate the solo voice as a fifth member of the ensemble, weaving in and out of the musical texture not only as soloist, but also as an equal member in this chamber music collaboration.’ His aim is achieved perfectly in these beautiful recordings by the Alexander Quartet with the excellent American mezzo soprano Kindra Scharich.” — New Classics (FCL 2019 In meinem Himmel)
“…transcriber violinist Zakarias Grafilo, gave much thought and effort to preserve some of the aural colours and even the emotional ‘innigkeit’ of the original… Idiomatic and virtuoso string playing and the singing is simply gorgeous. Young American mezzo Kindra Scharich has a beautiful voice, total emotional commitment and musical imagination that certainly makes worthwhile listening. Her soulful, anguished tone when the rejected lover sings about the two beautiful blue eyes of his lost sweetheart (Die zwei blauen Augen) is simply heartbreaking and I just loved her voice so full of joy in exclaiming Heia! in Ging heut morgen.” — Janos Gardonyi, The Whole Note (Mar. 2019, FCL 2019 In meinem Himmel)
ACCLAIM FOR LIEDER ALIVE! Performances
“Lieder Alive! Is Very Much Alive” —Janos Gereben
“Violinist Zakarias Grafilo’s arrangements for voice and string quartet helped bring Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder and Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder to life
in an invigorating performance by mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich and the Alexander String Quartet.” —Rebecca Wishnia
“The performance was so beautiful, and so honored the essence of love and longing at the heart of Brahms’ music, that I wanted it to go on and on.” —Jason Victor Serinus
Neue Lieder Acclaim
• The The San Francisco Examiner on January 24, 2015 featured a major article about our Neue Lieder composer, Michael Kaulkin. In the article, Mr. Kaulkin shares about his career, his inspirations, and the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff from whose works his compositions take flight.
• The Napa Valley Register Guard on March 12, 2014 featured a major article about our very own composer-in-residence, Kurt Erickson. As well as an impressive 40 year biography of the artist—beginning at age 4—the article also interviews Mr. Erickson about our Neue Lieder Commissioning Program and our Neue Lieder Songbook. In this delightful article, he shares about Lieder and how it feels to be our composer-in-residence.