ANNE THURSFIELD (Mezzo-Soprano)
FRANK MANNHEIMER (Pianoforte)
WHATEVER Liszt's position among the composers of big orchestral and choral music may ultimately be there cannot be much doubt that he was at his best in his shorter pianoforte pieces, especially those of lyrical and poetic intention, and in his songs. The Consolations, the Years of Pilgrimage, many of the Poetic and religious Harmonies, known to every pianist, and to the great body of music lovers everywhere, are full of a sincere beauty which the present day is beginning to deny to some of his more ambitious works : they are clearly destined to keep their place, for many a long day to come, among the classics of tho instrument's repertoire. The songs, except for one or two special favourites, are not so widely known. But almost all are on the same high level as the best of the pianoforte pieces, enriching and beautifying their words as genuine songs must do; gratefully laid out for i the voice, and with accompaniments such as one looks for from a master who understood every resource of the pianoforte as he did, they would have stamped him as a musician of great and original gifts, even if ho had written nothing else. Often as some of Heine's poems have been set, it may well be doubted if the sentiment of such things as Thou'rt like a flower, has ever been so beautifully realized in music as by Liszt.
Frank Mannheimer, who has a high reputation as a player of Liszt's pianoforte music, played in tho Foundations of Music series every day in the first week of November this year.
ANNE THURSFIELD
Three Songs of Goethe
Mignon; Der Du von dem Himmel bist (Thou who from Heaven art) ; Uber alien Gipfeln ist Ruhe (On the Heights Peace reigns)
ANNE THURSFIELD 'S mother and grand-mother were both professional singers, and her whole life has been spent among music and musicians. Born in America, she has lived in Europ& since her earliest childhood, and studied her art in Brussels, Lausanne, Berlin, and London. She was on the point of making her debut-about to give her first recital-when War was declared, and for the next four years devoted herself to relief work, first on behalf of the American, and then for the Belgian Committee; for that last she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth medal of Belgium.
From the outset of her singing career, she has specialized in lieder, regarding opera and oratorio as outside her domain ; the wisdom of her choice is amply proved by the success she has won in her own sphere, not only throughout Britain, but in Munich, Vienna, and other centres where the standard is an exacting one. She has a remarkable gift for languages and sings English, French, German, Italian, and Russian, as well as folk-songs in Greek and Spanish.
FRANK MANNHEIMER
Annees de Pelerinage (Years of Pilgrimage)
(Premiere Annee)
Eglogue ; Le Mal du Pays ; Pastorale
Valse Impromptu
ANNE THURSFIELD
Enfant, si j'etais roi (Child, if I were King)
S'il est un charmant gazon (If there be a lovely
Meadow)
Oh, quand je dors (When I sleep)
Comment, disaient-ils (How, they say)
FRANK MANNHEIMER
Mephisto Waltz (Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke)
(The Dance in the Village Inn) arranged from the orchestral Score by Busoni