For those not in the know, American mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski sings “from inside the music with unaffected purity and sincerity” (Daily Telegraph). Among her multiple international awards, at the prestigious Wigmore Hall/Kohn Foundation Song Competition, she was bestowed the Richard Tauber Prize for the best interpretation of Schubert lieder.

For her solo debut recording, Clara lends her lush mezzo-soprano to 19 lieder penned by Franz Schubert during the last 13 years of the composer’s all too short life. Landscape abounds in this collection – lakes, rushing streams, the rising moon, stars, flowers, birdsong. True to Schubert’s conception, Clara considers her voice and that of her collaborator, pianist Timothy Lovelace, equal partners.

FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
1. Rastlose Liebe, D. 138 (1:27)
2. Nachtstück, D. 672 (4:59)
3. An die Leier, D. 737 (4:34)
4. Der Schiffer, D. 536 (2:04)
5. Ganymed, D. 544 (4:13)
6. Am See, D. 746 (1:55)
7. Wandrers Nachtlied II, D. 768 (2:09)
8. Die Sterne, D. 939 (1:57)
9. Seligkeit, D. 433 (3:17)
10. Bei dir allein, D. 866 No. 2 (2:16)
11. Nachtviolen, D. 752 (3:00)
12. Ellens Gesang I, D. 837 (8:24)
13. Ellens Gesang II, D. 838 (3:12)
14. An den Mond, D. 193 (3:03)
15. Erlafsee, D. 586 (3:58)
16. Der Musensohn, D. 764 (2:15)
17. Gondelfahrer, D. 808 (2:15)
18. Geheimes, D. 719 (1:48)
19. Im Fruhling, D. 882 (4:21)

Making her solo debut recording with 19 landscape-inspired lieder by Franz Schubert, Clara opens on the robustly frenetic Rastlose Liebe, D. 138, the more sedately demure Nachtstück, D. 672 and the striking An die Leier, D. 737 and then we are gifted the flourishing Der Schiffer, D. 536, the elegant Ganymed, D. 544 and the resplendent Am See, D. 746.

Along next is the more stoic affair Wandrers Nachtlied II, D. 768, the playful appeal of Die Sterne, D. 939 and the spirited confidence of Seligkeit, D. 433, and they are in turn backed by the cultured Bei dir allein, D. 866 No. 2, the sheerness of Nachtviolen, D. 752 and both the gently perky Ellens Gesang I, D. 837 and the affecting Ellens Gesang II, D. 838.

The final third first brings us the emotive An den Mond, D. 193, the earnstwhile Erlafsee, D. 586 and the upbeat and the prosperous Der Musensohn, D. 764, before we are brought forth the impassioned Gondelfahrer, D. 808 and the dainty, yet sinewy affair of Geheimes, D. 719, coming to a close on the quietly robust Im Fruhling, D. 882.

Official Purchase Link

www.claraosowski.com