The two artists on this new recording discuss their project: "We have already shared this repertoire with audiences, and we convey the memory of those concerts in the recording. And hopefully with it, the spontaneity of our interpretations.
Although I have already premiered one song (Hinter Bumen berg ich mich) with another pianist, Thomas Jennefelts songs are quite new to us. We were only able to present Sieben Liebeslieder to an audience once.
On the other hand, we had the chance to delve into this cycle last summer when we travelled to Sweden and worked with Thomas for a few days. Its a great advantage to be able to work with a living composer and to refine our interpretation
and to approach these pieces in chamber music form, although Les nuits dt and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen have received most of their recognition from the orchestral versions."
Mezzo sporano Helen van Heel and pianist Naomi Tamura continue:
"All three song cycles on this CD are about love, or rather, follow the course of a love relationship. With Berlioz you can see a development from early love to melancholy and death, only to become more hopeful about love in the last song.
And Mahler, from a searching and restless youth, eventually comes to resignation in Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. There is also a certain storyline in Sieben Liebeslieder.
Quite simply, the essence of the Lieder tradition!"
