Julian Prégardien, Lydia Teuscher & co

Following Brahms' 'Liebeslieder-Walzer', Julian Prégardien and his friends very much wanted to play together again. Schumann was an obvious choice. He was the inventor of the 'Liederspiel': a series of songs for one or more voices linked together into a sort of mini opera by a single poetic theme. With piano accompaniment, as it was intended mainly performance in a lively domestic setting. In 1849 Schumann wrote his 'Spanisches Liederspiel', opus 74 and opus 138, using translations of Spanish folk songs by Giebel. They are of course about love, from the first shy encounter to the certainty of the happiness acquired. Schumann's music sounds southerly and sunny, with a folkloric palette, furious bolero rhythms and exotic harmonies. '!Olé', with a German accent.