Voices of our time: Barbara Bonney - Dichterliebe & Scandinavian songs (2004)

"This DVD, as each one of the 'Voices of our times' series, is in fact based upon a particular recital (recorded in 2001) at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, its items interspersed with comments. by the singer and pianist concerned. And they talk, for the most part, about the programme and not about themselves. The format is a good one. Barbara Bonney explains why she thinks the Dichterliebe cycle should not be regarded as a male preserve, and adds a note on her concept of a Scandinavian counterpart for the programme's second half. The surprise of Barbara Bonney's recital is not so much the inherent one of hearing Dichterliebe sung by a woman (others have done that) as the concentration of dramatic force which she now summons up for certain songs or particular moments. The tearful awakening in 'Ich babe in Traum geweinet' is an example, as is (perhaps most impressively) Sibelius's 'Was it a dream?' where the intensity of tone and emotion recalls Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in that song." (Gramophone)