Beethoven, Krufft, Lachner : Lieder
Christophe Pregardien, tenor
Andreas Stair, pianoforte
Teldec 3984-21473-2 (65' 19

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German tenor Christophe Pregardien is one of the the world's top lieder singers. His latest recording features Beethoven's charming "An die ferne Geliebte, op. 98", plus the world premiere of Franz Paul Lachner's Sangerfahrt, op. 33, a 1831-2 song cycle based on Heine poems.Lachner's cycle is pleasant and interesting, with several poems better known in their settings by Schubert. The disc also contains 6 worthy songs by Nikolaus von Krufft, a musical civil servant who died young in 1818. Pregardien sings all these songs with equal intelligence and ardour. He's accompanied by the brilliant pianist Andreas Staier on the pianoforte, in an attempt to recreate the original ambience, to little avail. Early keyboard afficionados should grab Andreas Staier's latest harpsichord recording, Variaciones del Fandango Espanol (Teldec 3984-21468-2 : ). Featuring a sexy Spanish fandango by Soler and a wild transcription for two harpsichords and castanets from Boccherini's D major Quintet, this is the best harpsichord album of the year.