Christoph & Julian Prégardien & Michael Gees

Christoph Prégardien previously introduced the young soprano Julia Kleiter. This time he sings in tandem with his son Julian, who has followed entirely in his father's footsteps. It is possible that the name 'Prégardien' was a help in the initial stages of his career, but it brought heightened expectations too, something that he had to live up to and has indeed done so with verve. During this recital, father and son alternate solo lieder with duets. For genetic reasons, perhaps, Julian's purer timbre blends extremely well with the darker, more baritone colour of Prégardien senior. Together, they take us into the wonderful world of German Romantic Lieder - from the tender songs of Mozart to the aria-like 'Adelaide' of Beethoven and on to jewels of the great 'Liederfürst' Franz Schubert, ranging from the bewitching 'Im Frühling' to the blood-curdling horror of 'Der Zwerg'. Brahms' yearning duets from the 'Liebesliederwalzer' and a few of his frivolous 'volkslied' arrangements add a light note to the proceedings. And then on to musing yearningly upon unrequited love in the singing poetry of Schumann's 'Dichterliebe'.