Beethoven Songs

Two stars unite to perform songs by Beethoven. Baritone Matthias Goerne is joined by pianist Jan Lisiecki for a selection of Beethoven’s Lied repertoire, which includes some of his most intimate music. A number of individual songs feature alongside the song cycles Op. 48 and An die ferne Geliebte Op. 98. The album is a further installment in Deutsche Grammophon’s celebrations of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary.

Featuring

Jan Lisiecki
Matthias Goerne
Ludwig van Beethoven

Did you know?

1/7

Performer Biography

Matthias Goerne, the baritone on this album, has a history of collaborating with top-calibre pianists like Alfred Brendel and Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Historical Context

The genre of art song was still embryonic in Beethoven's time, as evidenced by his varied and sometimes inconsistent labeling of his vocal works, such as calling 'Adelaide' a 'cantata'.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Beethoven believed that music in a song must precisely convey the meaning of the words, stating that out of infinite harmonies, only one truly fits.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven's vocal melodies are strikingly instrumental, posing a challenge for singers due to their magnificent shaping but few natural breathing spaces.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven's songs often fluctuate between simplicity and complexity, sometimes showing humor or experimenting with form, such as the sonata-like structure of 'Adelaide'.

Interpretation

Singing Beethoven's songs requires intensive preparation and a different approach than Schubert's, as the singer must transfer Beethoven's entire aesthetic and distinctive inflection to the voice.