Follow the Lieder

Fritz Wunderlich's voice captivated audiences for barely a decade before a tragic accident cut his life short at age thirty-five. In this episode, we explore the remarkable (though short) career and enduring legacy of one of the greatest lyric tenors of the twentieth century through performances of Beethoven's Adelaide and Schubert's Der Musensohn with Hubert Giesen at the piano.

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

On a chilly February night in 1913, the Viennese audience arrived expecting to despise Arnold Schönberg's Gurre-Lieder, but left on their feet in thunderous applause. Yet the composer snubbed them all, refusing to acknowledge their praise. Find out why in today’s episode covering Arnold Schönberg’s Gurre-Lieder. Featuring tenor James McCracken and the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa.

To watch a full performance of this monumental work, check out this recording out on YouTube

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

Journey with Schubert and Mayrhofer to the gloomy shore of Hades and meditate on the simple things that make our pale blue dot such a beautiful place to call home. Special thanks to bass Daniel Noyola for his gorgeous live performance of Fahrt zum Hades with pianist Martin Dubé.

Find out more about Daniel here
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Sing Fahrt zum Hades with me

Drawing of Mayrhofer

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

Written for amateur SATB ensemble and piano four hands, the opus 52 Liebeslieder Waltzer were the original Hausmusik and so popular with the people that sales of the waltzes were the source of much of Brahms' wealth.  Live performance by soprano Murrella Parton, mezzo-soprano Kathryn Leemhuis, tenor Dominic Armstrong, baritone Jorell Williams, and pianists Marie-France Lefebvre and Allen Perriello.

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

In this episode we discuss the character of Mignon (from Goethe’s Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship), the mysterious child performer whose longing, music, and devotion make her a most unforgettable figure. Featuring Hugo Wolf's Kennst du das Land? performed by soprano Siân Dicker and pianist Krystal Tunnicliffe.

Watch the performance on YouTube
More about Siân Dicker
More about Krystal Tunnicliffe

Find me on YouTube!

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

We're wrapping up 2025 by bringing Cincinnati Song Initiative's podcast hosts together for our annual Holiday Party! Join us in looking back on a wonderful year with peaks and pits from all of our hosts, then test your knowledge with games like "Guess that Song" and "Two Truths and a Lie: Composer Edition." Which composer walked the streets of Paris with a hammer in his suit pocket? Which composers did - and didn't - study with Nadia Boulanger? (Spoiler: even our hosts get stumped plenty of times!)

Thanks for a great year of song, and here's to a musically rewarding 2026!

Follow Song Cycle with Sam Martin and Laura Strickling here.
Follow So Lit Song Lit with Ellen Rissinger and Toni Marie Palmertree here.

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

Rebecca Clarke was many things (violist, composer, chamber musician, lecturer, prankster(!), fashionista) and it's not hard to see why she has earned her place as one of the most important composers of the 20th century. In this episode we discuss Clarke's life from birth up though 1913 and we are joined by her great-nephew Christopher Johnson to discuss Clarke's legacy and her song The Seal Man with guest artists Joanna Harries and Natalie Burch.

All quotes from today's episode are taken from Christopher's not yet published book on Rebecca Clarke. The other source I consulted for this episode was the book Quartet by Dr. Leah Broad.

For more information please see Christopher's website rebeccaclarkecomposer.com
Click here to watch Joanna and Natalie perform on YouTube
Click here to read John Masefield's short story The Seal Man from his collection A Mainsail Haul.

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

Part 2 of our exploration of Gustav Mahler's transcendental work Kindertotenlieder. With baritone Samuel Kidd and Christina Lalog Seal.

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

What happens when poetry born of unbearable grief meets a composer haunted by death? In this episode, we cover the first two songs of Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder, uncovering how Rückert’s words and Mahler’s music fuse into an unflinching meditation on loss, memory, grief, and love. With baritone Samuel Kidd and pianist Christina Lalog Seal.

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

From her electrifying performances on the world’s great stages to her influential years as a teacher in the United States, Lotte Lehmann’s legacy shines through in equal parts passion, vulnerability, and uncompromising musical truth. Featuring archival recordings of Schubert's Erlkönig and An die Musik with Lehmann's long-time pianist Paul Ulanowsky.

Follow the Lieder is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.