Not Only Opera

One way of many: Gerhaher and Huber perform Mahler at the Wigmore

Music by Mahler
Christian Gerhaher and Gerold Huber
Wigmore Hall
Stalls X14, £18
17 January 2020
Wigmore page

Programme:
Das Lied von der Erde: ‘Der Einsame im Herbst’
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: ‘Revelge’, ‘Der Tamboursg’sell’, ‘Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen’
Das Lied von der Erde: ‘Der Abschied’
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: ‘Urlicht’

I was beset by some doubts immediately before this concert, which I’d been anticipating for months. Had my adoration of Gerhaher blinded me to a reality that movements from Das Lied von der Erde sung by a baritone with piano accompaniment could only be disappointing?

Of course, it was alright in the end, especially if viewed, as one does historically informed performances, that this is one different way of considering wonderful music among many, and aren’t we fortunate to have such a choice. Pianist Gerold Huber could no more than valiantly gesture to the breadth of the orchestral score; I tried to remember to consider it a different piece, but especially in ‘Der Abschied’ the piano’s inability to sustain held chords feels like an empty lack rather than a new facet. But the flip side is the new intimacy afforded to the singer. Gerhaher doesn’t exactly need these reduced forces – he generates his own intimacy whatever the context – but his extraordinary musicianship exploits it nonetheless to render the music with a special loveliness.

I was there primarily for the Lied, but opportunities to hear songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn are always welcome, especially when performed by a pair with Gerhaher and Huber’s practice and companionship.