Matthias Goerne -Schubert Edition Vol.2 "An mein Herz": Der Jungling und der Tod D.545, Das Lied im Grunen D.917, etc / Helmut Deutsch(p), Eric Schneider(p)

Baritone Matthias Goerne came out of Germany in 1993 with several outstanding recordings of Bach's sacred choral works for Helmuth Rilling, then hit the international big time with a pair of recordings in Hyperion's Schubert lieder series with Graham Johnson including an excellent Winterreise. From there he went from strength to strength, recording song recitals and operas for Decca for 10 years before moving to Harmonia Mundi in 2007. Naturally, given his pedigree, Goerne made his French label debut with a Schubert recital, a single disc called Sehnsucht (Longing), and followed it up the next year with a second Schubert recital, a two-disc set called An mein Herz (To my Heart). As always, Goerne is an admirable singer with a supple voice and a smooth technique. But he has also grown since his debut and now his voice has less of a hooded quality than before, with more bloom in the lower registers and more shine in the upper registers. And Goerne has grown as an interpreter, as well, with as much power as ever in songs like Auflosung, D. 807, and An mein Herz, D. 860, but more sensitivity than ever in songs like Der Wanderer, D. 649, and Du bist die Ruh, D. 776. Ably accompanied by either pianist Helmut Deutsch or Eric Schneider, Goerne has turned in another persuasive Schubert recital and fans of either the performer or the composer need not hesitate.