Schubert: Lieder and Fragments

"Here, surely, are musical soul-mates, two artists who fuse to become one and whose love of Schubert's variety and ambivalence is evident in every bar. ...both artists clearly inspire each other." (Gramophone)

Schubert collaboration of tenor Ian Bostridge and pianist Leif Ove Andsnes with specially selected lieder and piano fragments drawn from their critically acclaimed EMI Classics series of Schubert recordings. The 2-CD compilation includes five newly recorded lieder never previously released by Bostridge: An die Musik; Ständchen (Horch, horch, die Lerch); Lachen und Weinen; An die Laute; and Der Tod und das Mädchen.

The Bostridge/Andsnes partnership was described by The Times as "one of the most inspired of record-company matchmakings: the two musicians really do test and try each other at every turn, as well as being mutually supportive…" Gramophone wrote, ""Ian Bostridge and Andsnes … convey their shared love of the composer with a refined musicality that is a joy to hear." Both artists record exclusively for EMI Classics.

Firmly established internationally and much sought after in the opera house, concert hall and recital room, Ian Bostridge is considered one of the finest tenors of his generation as well as one of today's leading Schubert lieder interpreters. Schubert lieder is Bostridge's repertoire of choice, a passion dating back to his early English school days: "I had a wonderful German teacher, who got me into German lieder and that has been the thing that has really made me a musician … This repertoire speaks to me in such a profound way. It strikes a chord in me in a way that no other music does." The Times described Ian Bostridge as "one of the most effective Schubert voices in Europe today." He performs works by Schubert in June and July 2008 at the Schubertiade in Schwazenberg, Austria and at the Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk, England. Great Handel, his CD of arias from operas and oratorios by George Frideric Handel, was released in 2007. His recording of Britten Songs with the Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir Simon Rattle was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award.

Leif Ove Andsnes is one of today's most highly regarded performers. In April 2008, prior to his Carnegie Hall recital, The New York Times wrote, "There are some performers whose personalities or eccentricities become inseparable from their music making. Then there are musicians who reveal themselves only through music. The brilliant, unassuming Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes falls into this category. … [He] frequently demonstrates that he is a pianist of magisterial elegance, power and insight in repertory including Mozart, Schubert, Prokofiev and Bartok." ….. An exclusive EMI artist for a dozen years, his recordings have won three Gramophone Awards and been nominated for a Grammy Award. … Recent releases include Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 17 and 20 with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, a CD and DVD entitled Ballad for Edvard Grieg and Brahms and Schumann Piano Quintets with the Artemis Quartet (for Virgin Classics). In the summer of 2008, Leif Ove Andsnes performs duo recitals in Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Austria (Salzburg Festival), including some repertoire by Schubert.

"One question immediately surfaced, as a near-capacity audience cheered itself hoarse at the sublime artistry of Ian Bostridge and Leif Ove Andsnes, and the performers had run out of encores. Why aren't there more concerts like this? Here was … a program that seemed to be motivated from the first note to last by the love of music and of making music happen. It was planned, furthermore, with an uncommon outlay of imagination." (LA Weekly following an all-Schubert programme at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles)