Recordings > Choral and Song
The Gents: "Sehnsucht"
Songs by Schubert, Wolf, Strauss, Schumann, Röntgen. With Ruiten; Janssen, piano; Csillag. Texts, no translations. Channel Classics CCS SA 30109
Sehnsucht, or longing, would be a good title for any offering by the Gents, an impressive all-male Dutch vocal ensemble that has perfected the art of leaning plangently into a yearning musical phrase. Taking its title from the eponymous Schubert lied, this collection of mostly unaccompanied romantic choral songs allows the Gents ample opportunity to showcase that skill, along with their mellow, resonant sound and pitch-perfect intonation.
Founded in 1999 by Peter Dijkstra, the Gents have a new conductor, Béni Csillag, but have maintained their silken, perfectly balanced sound and sophisticated musicianship. They are particularly well attuned to the tensions drawn from shifting suspensions in three Schumann selections, "Die Lotusblume," "Die Rose stand im Thau" and "Der Träumende See." Wolf's Sechs Geistliche Lieder have an appropriate sense of reverence and mystery. The group indulges its playful side in Strauss's percussive "Vor den Türen" and in two quirky songs by Dutch–German composer Julius Röntgen. However, my favorite selections are those by Schubert, particularly the title track, "Die Nacht" and "Ständchen," for which they are joined by pianist Thom Janssen and soloist Lenneke Ruiten. Ruiten's light lyric soprano is a lovely contrast to the Gents' juicy virility, but she approaches her lines with the same sensitive phrasing and delicacy of tone. She also shines in three solo turns, including a particularly graceful "Nachtviolen."
JOANNE SYDNEY LESSNER
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