Vocal Duets, Trios & Quartets [2 CD set]

"They are expert duettists [Baker and Fischer-Dieskau], having sung together on other occasions and in other media; the result, with the ever-faithful, ever-skilful Gerald Moore, is all that one might expect"
(Gramophone)

"These songs defied my ignorant expectations. They are by no means simple pastorals. They often have more in common with dramatic scenas. Several draw on Greek legend. Also in the mix is a curvaceous vocalise in the shape of the Sing-Ubungen. Janet Baker and DFD appear on the majority of tracks across the two CDs. Baker is in superb voice but in songs such as Nur wer die sehnsucht the strain tells on DFD's vocal chords. Peter Schreier appears on sixteen of the 25 tracks and Ameling on eleven. Both are in glorious voice." (MusicWeb Jan 2011)

Schubert's reputation as a composer of solo lieder has tended to overshadow the works for two of more voices that he composed from the age of 14 to his last years. Some of these works includes four voices and choir, and they fall in to the category of domestic music making. The earliest date from his years as a pupil of Antonio Salieri, and may well have been intended as study works, others, such as the scena 'Antigone und Oedipe' D542 of 1817 was probably composed for friends, and is quite demanding of the performers.

The singers on these CDs represent some of the very best Schubert interpreters of the period - and the recordings date from 1973. The accompanist is the incomparable Gerald Moore.