Schubert's posthumously published Schwanengesang actually consists of two collections: a 'cycle' based on the poems of Ludwig Rellstab, followed by the first and only settings that Schubert made based on poems by Heinrich Heine. The Heine songs in particular are astonishing to say the least; not only because of the experimental sound language - they are almost like mini-operas - but also because of
… the loaded seriousness, as if Heine's irony does not matter at all. In terms of drama and text color, tenor Christoph Prégardien can easily compete with the competition, although all this naturally sounds lighter and more transparent with him than with Quasthoff, for example, or with Robert Holl (whose heavier Schwanengesang appeared at the same time with Hyperion). Schwanengesang is the second CD that Christoph Prégardien released with Challenge Classics. Earlier in 2008 the CD with Schubert's Schöne Müllerin was released. (HJ)more
