Schumann: Einsame Blumen, Op. 82 No. 3 (from Waldszenen)

Ensemble Kontraste has taken Schoenberg’s arrangement of Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen as the starting point for a musical collaboration with the tenor Christoph Prégardien called ‘Wanderer’. The disc also includes 16 lieder by Robert Schumann, arranged for this project by Marcus Reißenberger, and four lieder by contemporary composer Wilhelm Killmayer, written by the composer with instrumentation to fit in with that used in the Mahler and Schumann pieces.

Christoph Prégardien started a new long-term collaboration with Challenge Classics in 2008 with the release of Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin (CC72292). The pianist on this disc is Michael Gees. It was soon followed by Schwanengesang (CC72302) with Andreas Staier as accompanist. Die schöne Müllerin was awarded the Midem ‘Record of the Year’ 2009 at Cannes, and the duo Christoph Prégardien and Michael Gees also received the MIDEM ‘Vocal Recitals’ Award 2009. Throughout 2008 the recording received critical acclaim from many national and international magazines (Gramophone Editor’s Choice & ‘Best of 2008’ accolades among others). Since then he has recorded Between Life and Death, a collection of songs and arias with Michael Gees, and the Italienische Liederbuch of Wolf with Julia Kleiter and Hilko Dumo which has been shortlisted for a 2011 Gramophone award.