Schumann Lieder: Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Featuring

Thomas Oliemans
Paolo Giacometti
Robert Schumann

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Composer Biography

Robert Schumann, the composer, initially composed almost exclusively for piano until his marriage to Clara Wieck in 1840, which marked an "unrestrainable flood of songs."

Performer Biography

Thomas Oliemans, a Dutch baritone, won the 2013 Prix d'Amis of the Dutch National Opera for his portrayal of Papageno in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Schumann believed all art forms were unified, viewing them as "brothers and sisters rather than as separate worlds," and sought to harmonize music and literature.

Instruments

Two different fortepianos are used for this recording: a Conrad Graf from 1830 for Dichterliebe and a J.B. Streicher from 1847 for the later song cycles.

Performer Biography

Paolo Giacometti, the fortepiano player, is known for playing both modern and period instruments and received an Edison award in 2004 for a Rossini project album.

Composition History

Schumann's "annus mirabilis" was 1840, the year of his marriage to Clara Wieck, during which he composed approximately 150 songs.

Album & Artwork

The album title "Dr Jekyl/l2 & Mr Hyde" refers to Schumann's musical alter egos, Florestan and Eusebius, and their connection to inner contradictions.