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Verbier- a musical event whose elevation is imposed by the grandeur of the Alps

In actuality, the album which you are being invited to listen to was created at the Verbier Festival, 2003 edition. The records remained hidden for 15 years in the Deutsche Grammophon. The treasury? A music recital held in a warm summer night in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The atmosphere? Created by some wonderful artists who have met on stage driven by their love for the Lied and for everything that it encompasses. The stage? That of the prestigious festival from Verbier, an artistic event whose elevation seems to be imposed by the grandeur of the Valais Alps. Annually, nearly 35.000 of viewers are drawn by this unique meeting between worldwide known musicians and young aspiring artists who came here in order to meet, interact with and sing on the same stage, alongside their idols.

An ideal approach of Brahms' world of Lied

The reason why the record hasn't been edited until now almost goes unnoticed when it is placed face to face with the constant pleasure created, especially for those who love this music genre, by listening to those 70 minutes of the album. As a matter of fact, ultimately, the album is an approach of Brahms' world of Lied. By choosing the two series Liebeslieder-Walzer, the unveiled universe of Brahms is charming and tranquil. Even for those who are uninitiated, this album represents a pleasant hearing because the emotional power of those more than 90 Lieder chosen for the performance has an irresistible impact.

I must acknowledge the editor's endeavor in creating an elaborated programme. Beside the above mentioned series, there were chosen random Lieder played by the album's 4 music stars, recordings which complete Brahms' portrait adding some extra lyrical touches, states of eagerness and enthusiasm, but strict representations of the acoustic architecture.

And because I mentioned the album's stars, and inherently those of the recital which took place on the 30th of July 2003, recital that brought together famous artists such as the bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff, a well- known star of the singing world back then, the young Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozena, with her amazing rise from that period, today being an indisputable international celebrity accompanied at the piano by the veteran and the legendary James Levine and his younger colleague and master of piano art, Yefim Bronfman. The tenor Matthew Polenzani joined them, with his ideally smooth and light tones, adding to this recital a heroic touch. But also the least mentioned in the event's review joined the group, Andrea Rost, the soprano who caught our eye with her graceful interpretation of the Lied, a well-controlled voice, sometimes full of innocence and sometimes full of glow, nuances with which she completes this beautiful vocal quartet.

These are the reasons why, on October the 12th, you are invited at CD Review(12,15), to the premiere hearing of the album dedicated to Brahms Lied.