Simon is one of the artists to feature on Joseph Middleton's CD 'Mahler - Lieder der Jugend: Songs of youth and awakening' which will be released on 10 July 2026. Track listing is below. Simon will sing Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.
Release date: 10 July 2026
Label: Signum
Catalogue no.: SIGCD1006
Artists
Katharina Konradi soprano
Sophie Rennert mezzo-soprano
Mauro Peter tenor
Sir Simon Keenlyside baritone
Joseph Middleton piano
Track Listing
[1] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 1: No. 1, Frühlingsmorgen
[2] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 3: No. 11, Ablösung im Sommer
3 Lieder GMW2-4:
[3] No. 1, Im Lenz
[4] No. 2, Winterlied
[5] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 3: No. 12, Scheiden und Meiden
[6] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 3: No. 10, Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz
[7] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 2: No. 7, Ich ging mit Lust durch einen grünen Wald
[8] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 2: No. 9, Starke Einbildungskraft
[9] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 1: No. 2, Erinnerung
[10] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 3: No. 14, Selbstgefühl
[11] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 1: No. 3, Hans und Grete
[12] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 2: No. 6, Um schlimme Kinder artig zu machen
[13] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 2: No. 8, Aus! Aus!
[14] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 1: No. 4, Serenade aus Don Juan
[15] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 1: No. 5, Phantasie aus Don Juan
[16] Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 3: No. 13, Nicht wiedersehen!
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, GMW 10 - sung by Simon Keenlyside
[17] No. 1, Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht
[18] No. 2, Ging heut’ morgen über’s Feld
[19] No. 3, Ich hab’ ein glühend Messer
[20] Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, GMW 10: No. 4, Die zwei blauen Augen von meinem Schatz
Link to Signum Classics
The CD wil be available to purchase direct from Signum once it has been released.
Link to Presto Classical
Once the CD is available, it should be possible to buy the CD from Presto, or download individual tracks.
Click here to see a complete list of Simon's CDs
SOUNDBITES
**** 4 star review
"Finally, Simon Keenlyside is a respectable choice for the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. His investment in Mahler’s texts brings dramatic intensity to these emotionally febrile songs, through the upper range comes under audible pressure at times."
***** 5 star review
"The programme leads naturally towards its culmination in Mahler’s first complete songcycle, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer), with Simon Keenlyside navigating masterfully through the music’s extremes of idyllic happiness and near-maniacal despair."
"In short, Middleton is the go-to source for this music....Middleton's beautifully written booklet notes go into great detail...But for less analytical listeners, the considerable appeal of the album is the choice of singers, the most arresting of whom is Sir Simon Keenlyside, who, in his mid-60s, delivers one of his most emphatic, text-fuelled performances. Particularly in these songs, Middleton outdoes himself creating a kind of orchestral scope that keeps one from missing the orchestral versions of the cycle."
**** 4 star review
"Finally, British baritone Simon Keenlyside brings his characteristic musical intelligence to Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. The song cycle marks the first time Mahler set his own words to music, drawing on his experience of unrequited love for the soprano Johanna Richter in this journey from infatuation to heartbreak and eventual disillusionment. Keenlyside’s voice is now weathered, the upper register no longer as easily accessed as it once was – the difficult, sustained passages in the third song, Ich hab’ ein glühend Messer, reveal some of the effort involved. However, his dramatic instincts remain totally intact, and this is a persuasive, assured account of a familiar piece. His sensitivity to Mahler’s complex emotional landscape is matched only by Middleton, whose playing is particularly distinguished here. The pianist effectively captures the intimate nature of these songs as well as the orchestral scope innate to Mahler’s songs. Together, they bring this recording to a satisfying conclusion."
