SCHUBERT. LIEDERa.

SCHUMANN. LIEDERb. Elly Ameling (sop); JOrg Demus (pf). Deutsche Harmonia Mundi Editio Classica/ B MG ® G K77085; 0) G D77085 (69 minutes: ADD). Texts and translations included. Item marked a from BASF BAC3088 (2/75), b Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 1C 065 99631 (11/78).

Schubert: Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, 0965 (with

Hans Deinzer, Cl). Seligkeit, 0433. Gretchen am

Spinnrad, 0118. Du liebst mich nicht, 0756.

Heimliches Lieben, 0922. 1m Frahling, 0882. Die

Vagel, D691. Der Jangling an der Quelle, 0300.

Der Musensohn, 0764. Schumann: Myrthen,

Op. 25—Widmung; Der Nussbaum. Aufträge, Op.

77 No. 5. Sehnsucht, Op. 51 No. 1. Frage, Op. 35

No. 9. Mein schemer Stern, Op. 101 No. 4. Lieder

Album far die Jugend, Op. 79—Schmetterling;

Kauzlein; Der Sandmann; Marienwarmchen; Er ists's; SchneeglOckchen. Erstes Gran, Op. 35 No.

4. Die Sennin, Op. 90 No. 4. Sehnsucht nach der

Waldgegend, Op. 35 No. 5. Jasminenstrauch, Op.

27 No. 4. Liederkreis, Op. 39—Waldesgesprach.

Loreley, Op. 53 No 2. Die Meerfee, Op. 125 No. 1.

Few, if any Schubert song recitals, have given me as much pleasure over the years as this one by the Dutch soprano, Elly Anieling. Originally, it was issued as a "Schubertiade" and included the 12 Liindler, D790 played on the fortepiano by Jeirg Demus. The CD reissue omits the Liindler but includes 19 songs by Schumann recorded in 1967, two years after the Schubert songs. Ameling's voice was perhaps at its very best at this time and the conjunction of two outstanding recitals is welcome indeed.

The Schubert anthology of nine songs includes Der Hirt auf dem Felsen with the clarinettist, Hans Deinzer, playing an elderly instrument of unspecified provenance, Gretchen am Spinnrad from Goethe's Faust and an incomparably beautiful performance of Schulze's 1m Frithling ("In springtime"). In this Ameling is sensitively accompanied, as throughout, by JOrg Demus whose intimate playing on a fortepiano tuned with exquisite imperfection has proved over the years an indispensable ingredient of the Schubertiade. Demus brings more expression to the accompaniment than most, with beautifully judged rubato and delicately shaded dynamics. Ameling, fervent and wistful, with faultless intonation, impeccable diction and a rare warmth of sentiment leaves an indelible mark on the sensibilities; it's a performance to treasure for a lifetime and, if that were not enough, she follows it with bewitching accounts of Die Vogel ("The birds") and Der Jangling an der Queue ("The youth at the stream"), the whole a heady triptych of vignettes portraying romantic love and the beauties of nature.

The Schumann recital is hardly less captivating though something of the peculiar intimacy of the Schubert songs is lacking mainly, perhaps, because Demus plays the accompaniments on a much later piano, more regularly tuned. There are too many delights to pick out but among them there is a vibrant performance of Auftriige ("Messages"), affecting interpretations of songs by RUckert, MOrike, Eichendorff, as well as two from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, and a youthfully mischievous Der Nussbaum. In short, there is not one disappointment in the recital and only the absence of a painting by Moritz von Schwind— perhaps his Abschied im Morgengrauen—on the cover is cause for regret. Full texts are provided in German and English and recorded sound is fine. Buy it at once! N.A.