Ranging from the dramatic narrative of Waldesgespräch to the reflective dreamlike lyricism of Mondnacht to the impassioned Intermezzo, Canadian baritone Elliott Madore achieved perfection as he opened his March 26 recital for Matinee Musicale Cincinnati with Schumann’s Liederkreis.

In der Fremde… Intermezzo… Waldesgesprach… Die Stille… Mondnacht…Schöne Fremde…Auf einer Burg…In der Fremde…Wehmut…Zwielicht…Im Walde… Fruehlingsnach… they are the twelve gems that make up Robert Schumann’s Liederkreis, one of the composer’s most inspired creations. In this song grouping Schumann mines the poetry of Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff, exploring the poet’s descriptions of the many facets of the landscape of his homeland that have an impact on the human heart.

Elliott Madore is widely recognized as one of our finest lyric baritones and as a superb singing actor whose wide-ranging repertoire encompasses principal roles in the Mozart, Bel Canto, and French operas. Madore stepped in on short notice for an ailing colleague, saving the day for Matinee Musicale Cincinnati, and proving himself completely at home throughout the evening in the song recital genre.

In the second half of his well-planned program Elliott Madore returned to sing in Spanish the Siete Canciones Populares Españolas of Manuel de Falla, and in French, the Maurice Ravel musical triptych Don Quichotte à Dulcinée. Madore brought his recital to a close with three songs by Charles Ives. The Canadian baritone surprised the audience by delivering a terrific Soliloquy from Carrousel, returning to sing an encore from Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt.

Singing to the ever-sensitive accompaniment of collaborative pianist Donna Loewe, Elliott Madore honored throughout his recital the meaning of the words of Robert Schumann: “The voice on its own cannot bring out everything or achieve every effect. Together with the entire total expression of the work, the finer details of the poem should also be highlighted. All goes well if the vocal line is not sacrificed.”

On Sunday evening, all went very well in the care of Elliott Madore and Donna Loewe.

Rafael de Acha © 2023