Graz Music Society

The breathtaking voice of Patricia Nolz

Patricia Nolz, mezzo-soprano at the Vienna State Opera, gave a recital in the Stefaniensaal as a guest of the Grazer Musikverein. An exciting reflection on the content of the romantic art song included. 

Love's sorrows and rose petals, plus a husband to adore. Around Women's Day, it's time to reflect on the content of the romantic art song on the classical stage. The song recital by mezzo-soprano Patricia Nolz is excellent proof that it is worth questioning.

First, her vibrato-saturated voice sets the opening three songs by Schumann in an active perspective that mixes urgent vehemence with the floral delicacy of "Die Blume der Ergebung" and co. Brahms' "Zigeunerlieder" follow. It is not only the accompaniment by pianist Malcolm Martineau that is bubbling here. With rolling consonants ("Brauner Bursche") and breathless operatic effect, Nolz brings out feelings that would have been considered immoral for 19th century women.

Morbid and languorous
The six songs op. 13 by Alexander von Zemlinksy then lead into a morbid turn-of-the-century mood: Nolz sings a partly necrotic series of texts with a voice that confuses the senses - a seduction and a threat. In such a context, Schumann's "Frauenliebe und Leben" seems almost backwardly languorous at the end. However, the singer presents dreamy, delicate interplay, whose abysmal resolution in the finale chokes the throat.