Konrad Jarnot has long proven that he knows how to apply his baritone with sense and sensibility both on the opera stage and as a lied singer. In 2000 he won the 49th Inter-national Music Competition of the ARD, a first prize that is seldomly granted in this competition. The student of Piernay, Rilling and Fischer-Dieskau constantly enjoys triumphant successes in concert halls all over the world. This selection of songs by Ravel and Duparc gives an example of what makes Jarnot so special.

 

Henri Duparc (1848–1933)

Les Mélodies

 

Henri Fouques-Duparc was gifted with an uncommon creative genius. However, he also suffered with a nervous disease that exagerated the composer’s normal critical sensitivity. For the greatest part of his life, Duparc was not even able to think of writing a single note of music. Fortunately, Duparc managed between the ages of 20 and 37, to enjoy a proli.c creativity. During this time he composed, amongst other works 14 Mélodies that prove Duparc’s genius and have left behind an important and permanent musical „testament”. The 12 Mélodies here recorded are those for male voice.

 

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)

Shéhérazade 

 

Maurice Ravel composed Shéhérazade (1903) with an exqusitely sculpted vocal line. The Poem was recited, at Ravel’s request by the poet Tristan Klingsor himself. Ravel’s enthusiasm for song was always related to expression of text and its meaning, not just sounds without context and reason. Exemplary are the two movements „La .ute enchantée” and „L’ indifférent”, where Ravel tries to express pure emotion as directly as possible. The work is usually performed with female voice. However, the text remains neutral. This recording ist a world-premiere-recording for baritone and piano.