Die schone Mⁿllerin - Schubert

Robin Tritschler gave an impressive, moving recital in the Law Society buildings, Blackhall Place, for the Limerick Music Association. Schubert's cycle Die schone Mⁿllerin is one of the high points of German song, and is demanding, not so much in technique as in expressive scope. Under the straightforward, Romantic surface of Wilhelm Muller's poems lie a host of infinite longings; and it is these which Schubert caught so perfectly, and which Robin Tritschler conveyed so well.

Tritschler used the best aspects of his voice to advantage.

Subtle shifts of colour within his predominantly light tenor tone, a willingness to sing so quietly that one's ears were on tip-toe, and security with intonation, made this an intimate Mⁿllerin, perfectly scaled for the President's Hall. His reliability was of the sort that on the first occasion when pitching went slightly awry, the lapse jumped out.

But such blemishes were rare, and detracted not one whit from the dramatic flow of these superb songs. Each inflexion of voice and piano seemed to spring from the words, and the character of each song was precisely focused.

Finghin Collins's contribution was as impressive as Tritschler's. Some details of the piano parts were lost because of too much pedal for the plummy tone of the Steinway piano and the hall's pleasantly resonant acoustic.

Yet colour, rhythmic life, complete security and impeccable unity with the voice made this a memorable display of musicianship.

I have heard Robin Tritschler on many occasions, especially in Baroque music. While he was impressive in many of those concerts, this recital for the Limerick Music Association was in a different league.