Anne Sofie von Otter - Der Erlkönig (Schubert / Berlioz), 2005

Swedish mezzo soprano Anne Sofie von Otter sings Franz Schubert's musical setting of Goethe's poem "Der Erlkönig in the orchestrated version of Hector Berlioz. To be honest I find the orchestral version superior to the original piano version.

2005, Schloss Herrenchiemsee

Münchner Phihamoniker,
Christa Thielemann

• Category

  Music

[HM0880]

Thank you for posting this! There is another version on YouTube (with von Otter), but the quality is not nearly as good as yours. It's neat how von Otter is still "into it" when the piece has finished. :)

I also love Berlioz's orchestration. His use of instrumental colors to tell this chilling story is breath-taking. Thanks again!

[hernia56]

Liszt's Orchestration is better - I vastly prefer the Otter/Abbado performance here on YT.

[MattWeisherComposer]

I'm pretty sure that video uses the Berlioz orchestration as well...

[mxgirl918]

Yeah I agree too. As much I love her expressiveness, I still think it's more for a male singer plus the character from the poem is a boy anyway.

[Prout]

I'm a feminist but... Yeah i totally agree with you :):):) A male voice is much better for this music. Even if she's brillant though

[spencophany]

plus made for piano

[MEGA Fly Fischertechnik]

nicht das ich das mag aber ich muss das morgen auf eine arbeit lernen

[Rebbel2]

Ein wundervolles Stück Musik :)

[vivegedda]

I agree entirely with you. This song is made for a male voice'

[fblj53]

The orchestrated version is nice by itself, but in this recording - as already mentioned - too fast.. a little slower would give it more tension. And even though I like Otter a lot, there's too much opera-drama in her interpretation..

[ddsupreme]

it's an interesting and very well executed interpretation, but it's too fast (the triplets are supposed to be the horses' hooves as it gallops) and despite a brilliant performance from von Otter, it lacks the menace a male voice provides.

[Jmil96]

either