Gramophone Magazine
August 2024
Recording of the Month

Konstantin Krimmel (baritone), Ammiel Bushakevitz (piano)

Schubert: Der König in Thule, D367
Loewe, C: Archibald Douglas, Op. 128
Schubert: Fahrt zum Hades, D526 (Mayrhofer)
Loewe, C: Meerfahrt, Op. 93
Schubert: Totengräbers Heimwehe D842 (Craigher)
Loewe, C: 3 Balladen von Goethe, Op. 44: No. 3, Der Totentanz
Schubert: Erlkönig, D328
Loewe, C: Gesammelte Lieder, Gesänge, Romanzen und Balladen, Op. 9: No. 4, Geisterleben
Schubert: Am Bach im Fruhling, D361
Loewe, C: Rückerts Gedichte, Op. 62-I: No. 4, Süßes Begräbnis
Schubert: Der Wanderer, D493
Loewe, C: Gesammelte Lieder, Gesänge, Romanzen und Balladen, Op. 9: No. 3a, Wanders Nachtlied I
Schubert: An Schwager Kronos, D369
Loewe, C: 3 Gesänge, Op. 123: No. 3, Die Uhr

Passion, solitude, nostalgia, the pain of the world, flight, death -- these are the typical themes of Romanticism. Konstantin Krimmel had already explored the extreme emotions that characterise this era of extreme emotion in Saga, his first recital album (Alpha549); he now plunges even deeper into this cosmos with collaborative pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz. "I simply love telling stories. Even as a child, I loved listening to old legends and tales", says Krimmel, who is indeed a fabulous storyteller-singer. The two artists have chosen here to compare songs by Franz Schubert and Carl Loewe that embody these great themes. The two composers, both masters of the Lied, had very different destinies: Loewe lived to be 72 years old, more than twice as old as Schubert, who had died aged 31.