First, they went to Venice to hear not only Italian song (an obscure but tuneful set by Reynaldo Hahn) but also French (five well-known settings by Fauré) and German in the form of Schubert, Schumann and Mendelssohn.
There was a bit of a hiccup to start with as somebody appeared to be under the mistaken assumption that you listen to a song recital in total darkness; but when there was light, the audience was not only able to hear Maltman’s powerful voice, though now a little gravelly at times, and Middleton’s sensitive accompaniment, but take advantage of the splendid programme notes with texts and translations.
This is such a classy feature of this Festival.
After the interval we moved on to a higher plane with words by poet Ruckert, via Schubert’s Vienna, to end with Mahler’s vision of death, Um Mitternacht, and the next world, Ich Bin Der Welt.
This was highly appropriate as the great man died 100 years ago on May 18, the previous day. It is hoped he was listening with a celestial ear to this moving performance of his songs.
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