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Title: Quasthoff's subdued approach is puzzling
Review: By almost universal agreement Thomas Quasthoff is pre-eminent in Lieder, and I have eagerly boutht each and every one of his recordings. But this subdued Schone Mullerin puzzles me. Quasthoff seems determined, as the Amazon reviewer rightly notes, to turn the song cycle into an "intimate monologue," which evens out the emotional arc and deprives us, in large part, of the miller's exuberance and joy before his doomed love afair carries him toward disaster. Quasthoff's first Schone Mullerin, for RCA, was more direct, less refined.In keeping with the singer's interpreation, the excellent Justus Zeyen, a wonderful accompanist, tones down the piano part, and that too is a bit of a shame. Fortunately, almost every other Schubert recording by the superb quasthoff exhibits more energy and high spirits.
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