Christiane Karg - Heimliche Aufforderung (Richard Strauss: Lieder) (2014)

German soprano Christiane Karg has been heard mostly in operatic settings, but here she shifts gears effectively for the more intimate world of Richard Strauss' songs. Strauss composed most of his lieder for a pair of singers, one of them his wife, and the "secret invitation" of the title (which comes from one of the songs included) seems to connote a kind of secret vocal language as well as the lightly romantic mood of most of the music. Many sopranos avoid the songs for this reason, but Karg makes them her own. She avoids overdramatic moves, but she also makes you aware that you're listening to Strauss, not Schubert. The program is a good mixture of familiar pieces (although some standards that do not fit the theme are missing) and obscure tunes like Madrigal (track 13); the latter will be reason enough for some Strauss buffs to acquire the release. But the sense of fun that pervades the whole, not something you typically associate with Strauss, is the best reason. Berlin Classics benefits from above-average Bavarian Radio studio sound.

Tracks:
01. Christiane Karg - Das Rosenband op. 36 Nr. 1 (2:58)
02. Christiane Karg - Ständchen op. 17 Nr. 2 (2:40)
03. Christiane Karg - Hat gesagt - bleibt's nicht dabei op. 36 Nr. 3 (2:05)
04. Christiane Karg - Die Georgine op. 10 Nr. 4 (3:47)
05. Christiane Karg - Alphorn o. op. (4:25)
06. Christiane Karg - Traum durch die Dämmerung op. 29 Nr. 1 (3:12)
07. Christiane Karg - Freundliche Vision op. 48 Nr. 1 (2:41)
08. Christiane Karg - Geduld op. 10 Nr. 5 (4:51)
09. Christiane Karg - Zueignung op. 10 Nr. 1 (1:43)
10. Christiane Karg - Heimliche Aufforderung op. 27 Nr. 3 (3:14)
11. Christiane Karg - Begegnung o. op. (2:07)
12. Christiane Karg - Ich wollt ein Sträußlein binden op. 68 Nr. 2 (2:48)
13. Christiane Karg - Madrigal op. 15 Nr. 1 (3:02)
14. Christiane Karg - Heimkehr op. 15 Nr. 5 (2:18)
15. Christiane Karg - Morgen op. 27 Nr. 4 (3:46)
16. Christiane Karg - Die Nacht op. 10 Nr. 3 (2:56)
17. Christiane Karg - Befreit op. 39 Nr. 4 (5:02)
18. Christiane Karg - Leises Lied op. 39 Nr. 1 (2:36)
19. Christiane Karg - Drei Lieder der Ophelia op. 67 - 1. Wie erkenn' ich mein Treulieb (2:28)
21. Christiane Karg - Drei Lieder der Ophelia op. 67 - 3. Sie trugen ihn auf der Bahre bloß (3:56)
22. Christiane Karg - Malven op. posth. (2:44)
23. Christiane Karg - Allerseelen op. 10 Nr. 8 (3:16)
24. Christiane Karg - Am Ufer op. 49a Nr. 3 (2:25)