Album Description
After receiving singing lessons from the famous Paola Novikova, young Helen Donath came to visit Europe in the early 1970's. There she gained her first experiences at the Cologne Opera Studio. After singing at the Hanover Opera House and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich she finally rose to international fame. Whilst singing at the Salzburg Festival she conquered the hearts of the audience performing the role of Pamina in Mozart's "Magic Flute". Since then, Helen Donath has been a regular guest at leading opera houses and concert halls throughout the world.
The music and composers represented on this "Archive" release mostly come from a period of stability in German and Austrian history, the years between 1815 and 1846. This was a time when landscape painters came into vogue and the arts in general reflected a rediscovery of nature and a romantic vision of life set alongside reverence for the "classical" past.
Songs for voice and obligato instrument have always been a rarity, however many composers of the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic epochs experimented with this special combination. The lieder included here are by Schubert, Lachner, Kalliwoda and Spohr and incorporate the soulful tones of the clarinet, which is here played by the outstanding soloist Dieter Klöcker.
This recording of Helen Donath, captured at the height of her career also features the pianist Klaus Donath. It has been digitally re-mastered using 24 bit technology.
Personnel: Helen Donath - (Soprano), Dieter Klöcker - (clarinet), Klaus Donath - (piano)