"In "Das Rosenband", Latvian soprano Inga Kalna, in her debut solo album, and pianist Diana Ketler occupy similar late-Romantic terrain: familiar songs by Richard Strauss paired with novelties by two admired Latvians, Alfrēds Kalniņš (1879-1951) and Jānis Mediņš (1890-1966). Accomplished and atmospheric."
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Fiona Maddocks
The Guardian
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"Inga Kalna has sung lyric coloratura roles for the last 20 years, more recently becoming best-known for her Baroque and Mozart work. Kalna is Latvian, and there are two interesting twists to her new recording, Das Rosenband.
One is that she treats us to songs in her native language; the other, that she essays Strauss lieder, which from her previous recordings I might have thought were a touch heavy for her. Wrong again! Like Fomina, Kalna’s voice here provides surprising richness of tone and weight, plus a ravishing luminosity – her first phrases could almost be a mezzo, but she has a wonderful spin at the top. The Latvian songs are by Jāņis Mediņš and Alfrēds Kalniņš, two giants of that country’s Romanticism, and they have a sweep that matches the Strauss well. Kalna performs with pianist Diana Ketler who takes her opportunities to shine as well as supporting her singer.
So once again there is much enjoyment to be gained from a well-constructed recital. And I would like to compliment the cover: an attractive portrait of the singer at her glamorous best, engaging the viewer with a warm smile. It makes a pleasing change from the trend of dour performers staring us out as they slump."
Francis Muzzu
Rhinegold Publishing
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"A new disc from the Latvian label Skani (itself a division of the Latvian Music Information Centre) concentrates on fin-de-siècle, Art nouveau songs by Richard Strauss and two Latvian composers, Alfrēds Kalninš (1879-1951) and Jānis Medinš (1890-1966). Recorded at the Great Amber Concert Hall in Liepāja, Lavtia, Der Rosenband was released on January 15, 2021.
The mix of songs is the perfect balance between the well-known (Richard Strauss' Morgen, Zueignung) and an investigative spirit that informs the songs of Kalna's homeland. Understandably perhaps, when the pair performed the recital live at the Dzintani Concertt Hall as part of the Autumn Chamber Music Festival there, they received the Latvian Grand Music Award for "Best Chamber Music Performance".
Given Kalna's participation in several opera recordings and the excellence on display here, it is staggering to think that this is her debut solo recording. In addition to studies in Latvia and at London's Royal Academy of Music in performance, Kalna has also studied musicology at the Latvian Academy of Music, somthing which clearly informs her repertorie choices and contributes to the depth of her interpretations. Her opera recordings include Armida in Handel Rinaldo with René Jacobs on Harmonia Mundi, one of the Ladies in Zauberflöte with Muti. on DVD (Vienna, Decca) and Asprano in Vivaldi's opera Montezuma with Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco on Archiv and she excels in the role of Lucio Cinna in the DVD of Mozart's cruelly under-rated Lucio Silla at La Scala with Minkowski (C Major). Other forays into later music have included Hindemith Mathis der Maler and Franz Schmidt's oratorio Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln, both from Hamburg. When she took over at short notice from Anja Harteros in Marc Minkowski's Alcina at the Barbican in December 2010, citics sat up and took notice; as you will, surely, on hearing this beautiful and brilliant disc.
Diana Ketler's excellence (her virtuosity is much called upon on this disc) seems perhaps unsurprising when one considers she was soloist with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra under the familiar name of Vassily Sinaisky at the tender age of eleven; she went on to study not only in Latvia but also the Salzburg Mozarteum.
This combination of musical excellence cemented by a lifelong friendship - and similarly longtime collaboration - is what defines the performances of this disc. Lieder, and chamber music, is all about interpersonal give and take in performance. To hear voice and pianist as such equals is refreshing (it is also a major element in Marta Fontanals-Simmons and Lana Bode's excellent I and Silence featured on Classical Explorer here).
This is not Classical Explorer's first journey to Latvia, if you remember: the Latvian Radio Choir was the star of this disc of Bruckner Latin Motets. It is though another memorable (virtual, COVID-safe) trip. But here it is specifically Lieder under the microscope.
Riga-born Medinš (1890-1966) is a central figure in Latvian music; it is testament to the strength of his music that we don't feel him diminished by that song's proximity to Kalna and Ketler's radiant rendition of Richard Strauss' delectable Morgen!;
I'm guessing here, but if any Latvian composer represented here is to be known to non-Latvians, it would be Alfrēds Kalninš (1879-1951). I'd like to play his Efeja vija (The Ivy) as an example, not only. because the arpepggio pigures in the piano seem to link to Strauss' Morgen!, nor because of the cleverness of how the opening gesture morphs into a closing gesture at the end, but because it allows Diana Ketler's sensitive playing to shine.
Song was central to Kalninš' output - he wrote hundreds of them - and his assured compositional voice is evident throughout. His expressive pallette is huge: Jūras vaidi (The Meaning of the Sea) is like a cross between Schubert and Hugo Wolf.
And so on the eve of Valentine's Day, we have the titular track: Strauss' "Der Rosenband" from a set of four Lieder, Op. 36. This is a smply gorgeous song, a setting of Klopstock (you might find the odd melodic gesture reminds you of Strauss' later Vier letzte Lieder). One of the most famous of set song texts is the so-called Mignon's Song ("Kennst du das Land"). Kalninš' take, called Minjona, is adventurous and dramatic.
Kalna sings with innate musicality and beauty throughout. Her Strauss Zueignung is less extrovert than some (Jessye Norman, I'm looking at you) but it is a heartfelt outpouring. Most importantly, though, it is the intelligence of the programming that allows Strauss and the Latvians to nestle so successfully together, offering differing differing takes on late Romanticism. And surely one of the crowning jewels of late Romanticism is Strauss' Cäcilie; and a great way to round off this fine recital."
Colin Clarke
Classical Explorer
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Das Rosenband: Inga Kalna presents Strauss alongside some Latvian gems
"It’s probably fair to say that Latvian composers don’t feature greatly on even the most avid classical music aficionado’s radar. When I reflect, only the names of Ēriks Ešenvalds and Pēteris Vasks come readily to mind. So, soprano Inga Kalna’s debut solo disc, with her long-term collaborator, pianist Diana Ketler, offers an intriguing programme. For, Das Rosenband, which was recorded in the Great Amber Concert Hall in Liepāja, Lavtia in July 2020, places the little-known music of two turn-of-the-century Latvian composers, Alfrēds Kalninš (1879-1951) and Jānis Medinš (1890-1966), alongside familiar songs by Richard Strauss. The programme was first heard in 2016, when Kalna and Ketler performed it at the Dzintari Concert Hall in Jūrmala as part of that year’s Autumn Chamber Music Festival – a which concert received the Latvian Grand Music Award in 2016 for best chamber music performance.
It seems astonishing that this is Inga Kalna’s debut solo album, given that her career has taken her to the stages of Hamberg State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Opéra National de Paris, La Monniae, La Scala, the Salzburg Festival and many other prestigious venues. Her performances in René Jacobs’ Handel and Mozart projects and under Marc Minkowski’s baton in Handel’s Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno at the Staatsoper Berlin and Alcina in Paris and London have garnered attention and acclaim. I’ve only heard Kalna sing live once, in Il Pomo d’Oro’s Serse at the Barbican in 2018, and I was impressed. If it might be thought a little surprising that she has chosen to focus upon late-Romantic song on this debut disc, then Kalna demonstrates that her lyric soprano has the necessary weight and sheen, and the Latvian currents which she and Ketler explore are captivating.
Kalninš and Medinš belong to that collection of fine composers who led musical nationalism in Europe in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, but whose compositions didn’t regularly travel beyond their national boundaries and have since been overlooked by musicologists, performers and listeners alike. Interestingly, Kalninš and Medinš also both lived through the communist and fascist occupations of Latvia during the years 1940-45, and witnessed the re-imposition of Soviet rule subsequently.
Grove tells us that Medinš built a career as a violist and conductor later becoming opera conductor of the Latvian National Opera (1920–28), chief conductor of the Latvian RSO and artistic director of Latvian Radio (1928–44). He taught in the orchestration class at the Latvian State Conservatory (1921–44), where he was appointed professor in 1929; in 1932 he became head of orchestral conducting. Medinš fled from the advancing Soviet forces in 1944, briefly living in Germany before settling in Stockholm in 1948. Kalniņš is considered by some to be the founder of Latvian opera, and composed over 250 solo songs, which are often imbued with the spirit of Latvian folk music, if not directly quoting such sources. Though he lived and worked in the US during the period 1927–33, following an invitation to become organist at the Dome cathedral in Riga, he returned to Latvia in 1933. In 1944 he became professor at the Latvian State Conservatory and was rector there between 1944 and 1948.
In an interview with Latvian Radio 3 ‘Klasika’ and the ‘Diena’ newspaper, Kalna described this recital programme as “musical Art Nouveau about the theme of love with extremely poetic imagery. Lots and lots of nature: evening, morning, sunny daytime, night. Autumn leaves and the groaning sea, moonlit waters and a summer evening’s breeze … It has love poetry in all of its aspects: general, sensual and even religious. Love for nature and one’s homeland. Love for one another, for the seasons and for the whole world embracing us. Lots of melancholy longing,” adding that “Mediņš immediately makes me think of Art Nouveau. I see Albert street and Riga’s Art Nouveau buildings.”
A miniature such as Mediņš’ ‘Uz brītiņu’ (For a moment) reveals Kalna’s ability to swiftly traverse a range of emotions and images with vibrancy and immediacy, conveying the excitement and consolation of love, the struggle and strife of life. Her lyric soprano is appealing and flexible; it can float delicately or make its presence felt. In this song, Kalna creates a sense of dipping into the protagonist’s mind, of being utterly immersed in an instant. The folky fourths and ostinato rhythms of Mediņš’ ‘Aicinājums’ (Invitation) are coyly playful, and against the lovely transparency of the piano’s busy textures the lyrical vocal line has radiance, transporting the listener to the world of fairy tale in the third stanza in which “the green spark of dreams/ Shines through the window”.
The rapture of new love acquires an almost spiritual fervour in ‘Jaunā mīla’ before calming and closing with ethereal lightness. In contrast, Mediņš ‘Glāsts’ (The Caress) has a simple directness, the strophic form and rocking piano motif bringing comfort and ease: this is a song to ensure peaceful dreams – think Humperdinck’s ‘Evening Prayer’ with a dash of ecstasy. Mediņš’ ‘Nocturno’ has a barcarolle-like momentum, but subtle nuances in both the voice and piano inject a welcome freedom and lightness of spirit, and Kalna’s lovely diminuendo at the close is finely graded.
Kalniņš’ ‘Efeja vija’ (The ivy) has an aphoristic preciousness – like an imagist poem – and there are some lovely Straussian harmonic slippages. The piano postlude is surprisingly tempestuous but eventually retreats into wistfulness, “what once was”. Kalna makes much of the words, here and throughout the programme, taking trouble to consider and convey their meaning. There is deep ardour in her soprano in Kalniņš’ ‘Jūras vaidi’ (The meaning of the sea) as Kalna explores the rich poetic imagery – “distant days of old I hear the sea roar … foam floods in anger”. The piano accompaniment is tremulous, with restless chromatic rises from the depths, but though the vocal line sinks low at times it remains evocative, overwhelmed only in the closing, clangourous sweep of wild storms and melancholy cries.
Kalniņš’ ‘Ūdens lilija’ is wonderfully fresh and lyrical, the water lily’s beauty as fragile, true and eternal as the moon’s silver rays. In ‘Minjona’ Kalniņš sets Goethe’s ‘Mignon’s song’, conveying the questioning intensity and complexity of the poem. The urgency and desire of the opening stanza culminates in a blissful vocal rise, “I desire to go with you, my beloved”, before memories and visions bring a tumult of emotions, troubled feelings that are finally assuaged with the transcendent salvation offered at the close, “let us go!”. There is a beautiful interplay between the voice and piano in Kalniņš’ ‘Jau aiz kalniem, jau aiz birzēm’ (Beyond the hills, beyond the grove). Here Kalna is a masterful singing storyteller. The melody has a beguiling spontaneity and builds towards the sort of passionate outburst that we might expect from a Jenůfa or Kát’a Kabanová – rapt, free and deeply touching.
These Latvian songs are a real delight, conjuring evocative worlds, seeming to encompass vast spans of time and space within their slender frames, communicating sincere human feeling. Kalna’s selection of Strauss songs are similarly emotive. Ever attentive to the poetic texts, she and Ketler offer some surprising and original interpretative nuances not least in ‘Morgen’ (Tomorrow) where a slow tempo is adopted, and the arpeggiated piano chords and ensuing triplets elongated and rhythmically irregular. This creates a certain timelessness, but as the song progresses I feel that it hinders the fluency of the song, and as the delays and rubatos become more exaggerated, the effect is somewhat mannered. Kalna’s vocal tone is refreshing and brings energy to the song, but the tendency to place emphatic weight on certain syllables seems to go against the simple certainty, and pathos, of the text: “Und auf uns sinkt des Glückes stummes Schweigen …” (And the speechless silence of bliss shall fall on us …)
There are a few slight intonation problems at the close too, and in the final phrase of ‘Allerseelen’ (All Souls’ Day), though here Kalna does capture the wistful melancholy of the harmonic shadows, and melodic sighs and resignation, while maintaining the energy within the vocal line which is propelled forward by the piano’s arpeggio rises. As the poet-speaker retreats into the past, there is a well-judged withdrawal, “Gib nur einen deiner süßen Blicke,/ Wie einst im Mai” (Give me but one of your sweet glances, As once in May.), and great tenderness in the piano postlude. ‘Breit’ über mein Haupt’ (Unbind your black hair) is dignified and direct, and Kalna really makes the listener feel the sublimity of the imagery: “Da strömt in die Seele so hell und klar/ Mir deiner Augen Licht” (Then clearly and brightly into my soul/ The light of your eyes will stream). In contrast, passion surges through ‘Zueignung’ (Dedication), though again I found Ketler’s free rhythmic response to Strauss’s instruction ‘con espressivo’ a little disruptive. Here, too, Kalna sometimes struggles to project the low-lying phrases, the crucial repetition, “Habe danke” (Have thanks) that closes each stanza becoming buried within the piano’s motions. This has the effect of weakening the transfiguration of the conclusion, where the final repetition overcomes the binding minor 3rd and finds release in a major 6th rise. Kalna holds the final note in extended rapture but its preceding springboard is lost.
‘Ruhe, meine Seele!’ (Rest my soul) has a lovely stillness, however. Kalna treats the melody in a recitative-like fashion, ever attentive to the text, while Ketler relishes the musical imagery. And, if the chromatic meanderings of Das Rosenband’ (The rose garland) are sometimes a little imprecise then the sensuous spirit of the song is powerfully conveyed and there is a compelling drive towards consummation. Kalna’s spins the final image of Elysium with heart-touching delicacy and Kelner perfumes this with a celestial sparkle. The recital closes with ‘Cäcilie’, which is fittingly fervent and impassioned.
If Kalna’s Strauss interpretations are not always to my liking, there is no doubting the comforts of her vocal warmth and colour, nor the care with which she treats the text, and she offers plentiful food for thought. And, the affection she bestows upon the songs of her compatriots, Alfrēds Kalninš and Jānis Medinš, make this disc a must have."
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Claire Seymour
"Opera Today"
The Latvian soprano Inga Kalna was a name that was new to me, and on this disc from Skani she and pianist Diana Ketler introduce songs by two unfamiliar composers. Their recital Das Rosenband (Kalna's debut disc) features songs by Richard Strauss alongside songs by two of his Latvian contemporaries Jānis Mediņš and Alfrēds Kalniņš.
Kalna and Ketler perform nine Strauss songs, from Allerseelen and Morgen to Heimliche Aufforderung and Cäcilie, interleaved by songs by Mediņš and Kalniņš; a programme which they first started developing in 2016 and which was recorded in July last year.
Kalna has a lyric soprano voice, clear and bright, her recent roles have included a number of Handel ones alongside Vitellia from Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, but there is a strength to Kalna's voice as well as a flexibility and certainly her approach to Strauss has a strong sense of line and firmness of purpose allied to a fine feeling for the shape of the line. This is not the sort of Strauss in which you fall like a luxuriant bath, though there is plenty of beauty of tone, but there is clarity too and a great sense of the words. I have rarely heard Strauss songs sung with such a clarity of diction, and she makes the songs mean something more than simply a lovely line.
From the first notes of Allerseelen you sense that the song is beautifully conceived, and whilst quite steady Kalna and Ketler move towards a climax. Morgen is rather touching, with a sense fragility in the line, In a number of the songs, such as Breit'uber mein Haupt she is quite classical in approach, and often we get beautifully floated top lines. Ecstasy can be some what muted, as in Zueignung, but she and Ketler never stint on climaxes. Ruhe, meine Seele starts off dark (in the piano) and intimate, with a slow build to real intensity, whilst the title song Das Rosenband flows beautifully and Heimliche Aufforderung is wonderfully impulsive. The final song is Cäcilie, a fitting climax to the recital. I think that what I liked about Kalna and Ketler's approach is that these are songs, lieder and whilst Kalna is an opera singer she does not approach the material operatically.
But much of the interest on the disc lies with the songs by Kalna's compatriots. Janis Mediņš (26 years younger than Strauss) is one of the central figures in Latvian musical history. He wrote the first Latvian works in a variety of genres, piano concerto, ballet, piano trio and symphonic poem. He and Kalniņš are the founders of Latvian opera. Mediņš wrote over 200 solo songs, and whilst his music is often indebted to Wagner and Richard Strauss, the Russian romances of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov are clearly an influence in the songs, as well as the music of Sibelius.
Melodic and engaging, For a moment definitely evokes Tchaikovsky with Kalna bringing out the story-telling element in the song. A lovely engaged performance of Invitation is fast and eager, with the song having a distinct atmosphere. New Love with its big piano part is romantic and almost ecstatic, but the voice evoked hints at Edvard Grieg, whilst The Caress feels like a tender lullaby. Nocturno is remarkably Schumanesque in style and is Mediņš' last song on the disc.
Alfreds Kalniņš was closer to Strauss in age (seven years younger); he grew up in a German-speaking environment, and he has been compared to Grieg in his love of nature and the natural influence on his music. Kalniņš wrote over 250 songs. The Ivy is a relatively short song, but rather touching and with a richly romantic piano postlude, whilst The moaning of the sea is highly atmospheric and reminiscent of Sibelius. The water-lily has the lyrical charm of Tchaikovsky, along with some folk-ish elements, and the lively Goethe setting, Mignon's song almost evokes early Richard Strauss. His final song on the disc is Beyond the hills, beyond the groves, quite a substantial piece and beautifully thoughtful.
Apart from Kalniņš' Goethe setting, all the Lativan songs seem to set Latvian poets and it would be interesting to learn more about the background to them. The nascent Latvian musical culture remains fascinating as you sense the composer's breaking free of the overwhelming Russian influence (the area was part of the Russian Empire until 1917), and whilst Kalniņš did study at St Petersburg Conservatoire, Mediņš seems to have only studied in Riga.
In an interview quoted in the booklet, Kalna talks about the Art Nouveau influence in all these songs, and links it to the remarkable Art Nouveau architecture in Riga. The CD booklet provides background to the composers and the songs, though I would like to have learned more and particularly would have liked dates for the various songs. There are full texts, in the original language (German/Latvian) and English translations.
Kalna and Ketler's performances of the Richard Strauss songs are notable and enjoyable, and for me Kalna's voice is just right for the music though I realise some will want a plusher tone quality. But by interleaving Strauss with his Latvian contemporaries, the two performers have not only introduced us to a new musical world, but tantalised with links and questions about influences.
Reviewed by Robert Hugill on 26 January 2021 Star rating: 4.5 (★★★★½)
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