“Die Mainacht” (op. 43 no. 2)

April 11, 1952: New York, Manhattan Center

Frederick Schauwecker, pf.

Testament SBT 1427; Naxos 8.110789

Sehr langsam and ausdrucksvoll (very slow and full of expression) is the indication Brahms gives performers at the beginning of this 1864 setting of Ludwig Hölty's poem. Although most singers attempt in different ways to do justice to the song's expressiveness, a surprising number fail to respect the tempo indication. In his 1974 recording Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau dispatches the three strophes in just 3:34, often preferring to peck at the notes rather than facilitating the legato flow of the music. Fritz Wunderlich, singing in his own home, also takes it rapidly, but his sustained mezza voce (which draws inspiration from the piano markings in the accompaniment) generates an appropriately nocturnal atmosphere of hushed tension. The song is uncomfortably low for a tenor in the original key of E-flat major, so Wunderlich takes it up to G-flat major. John McCormack does the same in a 1924 recording, whose relatively rapid pace can be justified by the time limits imposed by the 78 side. His legato is smoother than that of the two German singers and his diction no less clear (though his Irish accent is conspicuous).

Heard after these performances Björling's recording (also in G-flat major) comes as something of a revelation: he respects the tempo indication (the duration is 4:17), heightening the tension of a melodic line that avoids settling on the tonic until the end of the third verse.