This CD of songs by Clara Schumann stands out from standard recitals on several counts. First, the piano accompaniment has been arranged for string quartet by the soloist. Second, the soprano soloist is male. Jörg Waschinski describes himself not as a counter tenor, but as a soprano, because the range of most countertenors is closer to that of an alto or mezzo-soprano. (Vocal pedagogues may quibble over Waschinski's appropriation of the term, claiming that true sopranos don't use falsetto, as he does, but he does ...
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This CD of songs by Clara Schumann stands out from standard recitals on several counts. First, the piano accompaniment has been arranged for string quartet by the soloist. Second, the soprano soloist is male. Jörg Waschinski describes himself not as a counter tenor, but as a soprano, because the range of most countertenors is closer to that of an alto or mezzo-soprano. (Vocal pedagogues may quibble over Waschinski's appropriation of the term, claiming that true sopranos don't use falsetto, as he does, but he does nonetheless sing in the soprano register.) There's never any question as to whether a man or woman is singing; his voice has the lightness characteristic of most countertenors, even though his range extends higher than the usual. Since the repertoire of the Romantic lied has rarely been broached by countertenors, it may take a few tracks before the listener is acclimated to the novel sound, which is generally quite attractive. Here Waschinski is not helped by the recording, in which he seems...
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