Mezzo-Soprano Redefines Schumann's Dichterliebe

Mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston, known for her stage originality, unveils a compelling new recital disc. The centerpiece is Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe, a classic song cycle by Heinrich Heine, presented in an unusual yet captivating rendition for the female voice. Charlston complements this with other Heine settings from contemporaries like Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn.

The disc also features the world premiere recording of "Knight's Dream," a new commission by Héloïse Werner. This work, inspired by a lover's fevered dream, serves as a rich companion to Schumann's cycle. Charlston's performance of Werner's folk-inflected vocal lines is praised, with her wine-dark mezzo-soprano fully embracing the music's depth.

Pianist Sholto Kynoch provides exceptional support, actively embellishing the narrative through spoken interjections, humming, and percussive effects on the piano. His resourceful accompaniment breathes life into pieces like Loewe's "Die Lotosblume" and Fanny Mendelssohn's "Schwanenlied." The duo's interpretation of Dichterliebe is notably individual, allowing moments to unfold with a trancelike quality.

Charlston and Kynoch's approach to Dichterliebe is deliberately paced, with certain phrases stretched to create a dreamlike atmosphere. This expansive mood pervades the cycle, leading to surprising moments, such as the elongated final measure of "Die Rose, die Lilie." Charlston's honeyed middle register and Kynoch's sensitive handling of Schumann's postludes contribute to an absorbing and deeply personal listening experience.