The second in a two part set of Beethoven’s Lieder und Gesänge, with the luminous collaboration between the tenor, John Mark Ainsley and his accompanist Iain Burnside. Beethoven himself was not a keen song writer, yet despite this almost half of his total works call for a voice. This disc includes some of the best of those compositions. John Mark Ainsley is accomplished as both a concert and operatic vocalist, performing at some of the most well renowned venues in the world. As well as having great experience and success as a live artist he also benefits from an extensive discography which covers repertoire from Bach to Stravinsky. Iain Burnside enjoys a unique reputation as pianist and broadcaster and is most recognised for his collaborations with leading international singers. This will be Iain’s seventh disc with Signum Classics
"There is something monumental about John Mark Ainsley’s Beethoven. Iain Burnside’s fluid playing is delightful, while Ainsley’s artistry is fascinating."
"Tenor John Mark Ainsley is already recognized as one of the most exciting talents around. I have seen him on the opera stage singing everything from Schubert to Henze, and here in an all-Beethoven programme he shows a masculine intensity that, particularly in ‘Abenstern’, proclaim loud ad clear that we have a first-class Florestan in the making. We get ‘Adelaide’ and An die ferne Geliebte here, among lesser-known works, all sung with a total vocal and emotional commitment. A riveting singer. Tenor John Mark Ainsley is already recognized as one of the most exciting talents around. I have seen him on the opera stage singing everything from Schubert to Henze, and here in an all-Beethoven programme he shows a masculine intensity that, particularly in ‘Abenstern’, proclaim loud ad clear that we have a first-class Florestan in the making. We get ‘Adelaide’ and An die ferne Geliebte here, among lesser-known works, all sung with a total vocal and emotional commitment. A riveting singer." *** Della Couling
"John Mark Ainsley’s instinctive musicianship at its best, perhaps, in ‘An Die Ferne Geliebte’, ‘To A Distant Beloved’, or as the poetic translation in the booklet would have it,’ To My Dear Girl, So Far Away’. "
