Schumann: Dichterliebe, Liederkreis Op 24 — review

The choice of a light-toned but warm sounding Erard 1837 fortepiano makes all the difference to this expressive account of Schumann's Liederkreis Op 24, and his great Heine setting – the 16 songs of Dichterliebe. Mark Padmore, in superb voice, brings a vivid new confidence to the German text (Franziska Roth is credited as language coach) and he and Kristian Bezuidenhout tackle those recital favourites "Mit Myrten und Rosen" (from Liederkreis) and "Ich grolle nicht" (from Dichterliebe) with a freshness that bears plenty of repetition. Five Heine settings by Lachner complement the Schumann, but it's the latter whose genius shines out. One problem: the liner booklet has already fallen apart. Better glue please.