Schubert: Winterreise

It's nice to see that in the business climate of 2004, when record companies and download services were deathmatching over every last consumer penny, there was still room for charity. This Winterreise, by tenor René Kollo and pianist Oliver Pohl, was produced to benefit Berlin's Deutsche Kinderhilfe Direkt (German Children's Aid Direct), a non-profit organization that helps sick and disadvantaged children. Both artists donated their time and efforts, and the Berlin Brandenburg Radio Corporation donated the recording space. ... Read More

It's nice to see that in the business climate of 2004, when record companies and download services were deathmatching over every last consumer penny, there was still room for charity. This Winterreise, by tenor René Kollo and pianist Oliver Pohl, was produced to benefit Berlin's Deutsche Kinderhilfe Direkt (German Children's Aid Direct), a non-profit organization that helps sick and disadvantaged children. Both artists donated their time and efforts, and the Berlin Brandenburg Radio Corporation donated the recording space. Kollo and Pohl deserve credit for their generosity, and also for deciding on a more difficult and exacting program than presumably was asked of them; afterall, an operatic veteran like Kollo could have tossed off a few arias or favorite songs and called it a day. On the other hand, choosing Franz Schubert's heavy song cycle about rejection and loneliness for a children's charity album can seem odd; it's not exactly uplifting or kid-friendly. But this isn't a theme album, simply one... Read Less