Composer: Johannes Brahms, Cesar Bresgen, Franz Peter Schubert, Robert Schumann, Friedrich Silcher, Hermann Karl Josef Zilcher
Performer: Christoph Prégardien, Julian Prégardien, Michael Gees, Fabienne Waga, Patricia Messner
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Challenge Classics
Catalogue: CC72645
Release: 2014
Size: 300 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Silcher: Frisch gesungen
02. Silcher: Ännchen von Tharau
03. Silcher: O wie herbe ist das Scheiden
04. Silcher: Loreley
05. Schubert: Erlkönig, D328
06. Schubert: Wandrers Nachtlied II ‘Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh’, D768
07. Schubert: Zum Rundetanz, D983b
08. Schubert: Die nacht, No. 4, D. 983
09. Schubert: Im Abendrot, D799
10. Schubert: Fischers liebesglück, D. 933
11. Schubert: Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D774
12. Schubert: Der Zwerg, D771 (Collin)
13. Schubert: Meeres Stille, D216, Op. 3 No. 2 (Goethe)
14. Schubert: Widerspruch D865 (Seidl)
15. Schubert: Licht und Liebe D352 (Collin)
16. Schubert: Nacht und Träume, D827
17. Zilcher: Frühlingsstrophe
18. Zilcher: Der betrunkene sternseher
19. Zilcher: Ein traum ist unser leben
20. Zilcher: Über allen gipfeln ist ruh
21. Zilcher: Gutter Rat
22. Brahms: Die Sonne scheint nicht mehr (No. 5 from Deutsche Volkslieder, WoO 33)
23. Brahms: In stiller Nacht (No. 42 from Deutsche Volkslieder, WoO 33)
24. Brahms: Erlaube mir, feins mädchen
25. Brahms: Da unten im Tale (No. 6 from Deutsche Volkslieder, WoO 33)
26. Schumann: Nachtlied
27. Schumann: Weisst du, wieviel Sternlein stehen
28. Bresgen: O du stille Zeit
‘Father and Son’ is an exciting project that features the great tenor and lieder specialist Christoph Prégardien and his son Julian performing arrangements for two voices and piano of songs by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Friedrich Silcher, and Johannes Brahms.
The featured pianist is a regular accompanist of Christoph Prégardien, Michael Gees. This Hybrid SACD also includes five songs by the early 20th century German composer Herrman Zilcher written specifically for two tenors, in this case accompanied by a pair of harmonica players. Based on the reminiscences of Franz Schubert’s life noted down by Moritz von Schwind, it is possible to imagine that Schubert the composer may have sometimes intended the use of two voices with the same range to perform his songs either singing alternatively or in unison. This semi-improvisational approach did not find its way into the published works and has been largely forgotten, but it forms the basis of this ground-breaking album featuring the father and son combination of Christoph and Julian Prégardien. Alongside the twelve Schubert lieder presented here, the Prégardiens have chosen a selection of songs by Robert Schumann and a contemporary of his, Friedrich Silcher, as well as four works by Brahms, and these have all been arranged for two voices by the artists along similar lines. Also included are five lieder for two tenors and two harmonicas by the 20th century composer Herrmann Zilcher.
The renowned lieder tenor Christoph Prégardien has made several recordings for Challenge Classics including Schubert’s “Die Schone Mullerin” with Michael Gees (CC72292), a Gramophone “Editor’s Choice”. In 2013 Prégardien and Gees released a critically acclaimed recording of Schubert’s Winterreise (CC72596).