This Viardot Edition is the first critical edition of Pauline Viardot’s songs. It is based on fair copies of the woman composer, who was one of the most versatile singers and important representatives of the bel canto performance tradition in the 19th century. The present volume includes settings of Russian texts by Pushkin, Feth and Turgenev as well as Italian-language songs based on Tuscan folk lyrics. All songs are accompanied by German translations, which were specifically prepared for the German first edition in the 19th century. The solo Lied with piano accompaniment was Pauline Viardot’s main genre, which she made bloom in the most diverse colors, depending on text and style. In addition to her own use, the sought-after vocal pedagogue also wrote her songs for her students. Accordingly, the songs included in this volume are suitable for different vocal genres in terms of their ranges and expressive content: for example, songs such as “Zwei Rosen”, “L’innamorata” or “Das Vöglein” are suitable for light, high voices, while lyrical, lower voices can find suitable songs with “Ruhige, heilige Nacht”, “Flüstern, atemscheues Lauschen” or “C’era una volta”. For versatile voices with a gift for coloratura, “Non vi maravigliate” is a little showpiece, while voices with the ability for dramatic accents can sing songs like “Die Beschwörung” or “Mitternächtige Bilder”. Unlike the sometimes very long Russian songs, the consistently short Italian songs are well suited as an introduction to the easier Italian repertoire. The songs depict clearly defined scenes within which the singers are able to develop their respective characters.

Das Blümlein VWV1018 (Alexander Puschkin)
Auf Grusiens Hügeln VWV1037 (Alexander Puschkin)
Ruhige, heilige Nacht VWV1038 (Afanassi Fet)
Mitternächtige Bilder VWV1039 (Afanassi Fet)
Flüstern, atemscheues Lauschen VWV1040 (Afanassi Fet)
Die Beschwörung VWV1041 (Alexander Puschkin)
Die Meise VWV1042 (Iwan Turgenjew)
Zwei Rosen VWV1055 (Afanassi Fet)
Des Nachts VWV1056 (Alexander Puschkin)
Der Gefangene VWV1057 (Alexander Puschkin)
Das Vöglein VWV1058 (Alexander Puschkin)
Die Sterne VWV1059 (Afanassi Fet)
Florentinisches Ständchen Serenata fiorentina VWV1048 (Giuseppe Tigri)
Die Verlassene Cera una volta VWV1049 (Giuseppe Tigri)
Die Dorfsängerin Non vi maravigliate VWV 1047 (Giuseppe Tigri)
Die Unglückliche Povera me! VWV1050 (Giuseppe Tigri)
Doppel-Liebe L'innamorata VWV1051 (Giuseppe Tigri)