From Schade and Braun, A Rich Mix of Song

By Jens F. Laurson
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, October 21, 2004; Page C02

Tenor Michael Schade and baritone Russell Braun offered a varied and well-balanced program of duets, arias, lieder and melodies at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater on Tuesday night, sponsored by the Vocal Arts Society. Starting with Monteverdi madrigals, both singers delved headlong into "Tornate, O Cari Baci" with much gusto, energy and to great effect with the audience. …

Mozart's earthy wit was on display in four seldom-heard songs, sung by Schade. His voice is strong, very focused and clean…impeccable to a fault …

Braun sang four songs by Franz Schubert: the highlight was "Doppelgaenger," done with just the right mix of eeriness and panache. … the following Schumann pieces, which were true marvels … best described as trios for two voices and piano. Utterly enjoyable, sung with much verve and all too rarely heard …

Gabriel Faure's "L'Horizon Chimerique" was …movingly depicted by Braun. Schade was impressive in Ravel's "Cinq Melodies Popularies Grecques"; his tone seemed perfectly suited to the French text.…

John Greer's setting of Quebecois folk songs were introduced by Schade with self-deprecating charm and wit (he thanked the audience for being so "Canada-friendly"). The most famous tenor-baritone duet there is, Bizet's "Au fond du temple saint" from "The Pearl Fishers," brought the crowd to its feet.

Claudio Monteverdi
(1567–1643)

from Settimo libro de Madrigali
Tornate, o cari baci
O viva fiamma, o miei sospiri ardenti

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756–1791)

Das Veilchen, KV 476
Männer suchen stets zu naschen (Warnung), K. 433
Komm, liebe Zither, komm, KV 351
Das Lied der Trennung, KV 519

Franz Schubert
(1797–1828) 
Ganymed, D 544, Op. 19, No. 3
Du bist die Ruh, D 776, Op. 59, No. 3
Der Doppelgänger, D 957, No. 13
Der Musensohn, D 764, Op. 92 No. 1

Robert Schumann
(1810–1856)

Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär, Op. 43, No. 1
Schön Blümelein, Op. 43, No. 3
Herbstlied, Op. 43, No. 2
Intermezzo, Op. 74, No. 2
Blaue Augen hat das Mädchen, Op. 138, No. 9

Gabriel Fauré
(1845–1924)

L'horizon chimérique, Op. 118
La mer est infinie
Je me suis embarqué
Diane, Séléné
Vaisseaux, nous vous aurons aimés en pure perte

Maurice Ravel
(1875–1937)

Cinq mélodies populaires grecques
Chanson de la mariée
Là-bas, vers l’église
Quel galant m’est comparable
Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques
Tout gai!

Camille Saint-Saëns
(1835–1921)

El desdichado

Gabriel Fauré 

Puisqu’ici-bas, Op. 10, No. 1

John Greer
( 1954) 

Canadian Folksong Arrangements
Les raftsmen
Un canadien errant
Vive la canadienne