24 Mar 2006

Holzmair/Vignoles — Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1738257,00.html

Holzmair_Wolfgang_small.jpgErica Jeal [The Guardian, 24 March 2006]

Opera has always taken second place to lieder for the Austrian baritone Wolfgang Holzmair. He seems to find more of an outlet for dramatic expression on the concert platform than many do on stage, and his devoted admirers won't have been disappointed by the communicative energy he brought to bear on this programme of songs by Clara and Robert Schumann. They might, however, have had to admit that his voice itself was sounding a little worn, and that Holzmair might now be better heard in halls with warmer, more singer-friendly acoustics.