Schumann: Romanzen und Balladen

SCHUMANN Romances and Ballads: Book 1, op. 67; Book 2, op. 75; Book 3, op. 145; Book 4, op. 146. Romances for Women’s Voices: Book 1, op. 69; Book 2, op. 91 • Rupert Huber, cond; SWR Folk Ens Stuttgart • HÄNSSLER (76: 04 & no translations) In Fanfare 24:1 Marc Mandel, speaking of this rerelease, said “a lack of printed texts unfortunately proves a major hurdle when we listen to the disc of Schumann Romances and Ballads issued by Hänssler Classic.” No joke. Even the notes mention that “Schumann’s typical poetic sensibility and literary awareness are evident in his selection and compilation of the texts he set.” But we in the English-speaking world will never know this. Mandel also lamented that the German texts were not given, nor the poets who wrote them. Someone at Hänssler must have been listening, for the texts and designated poets are now present. But still, the lack of translations in works as unknown and esoteric as these, and the fact that part-s