An unusual and yet fascinating assortment of songs for and about children, fairy tales, far away lands and romantic ideals. It brings together a disparate group of composers including Schumann, Brahms, Rachmaninov, Mussorgsky, Barber, Poulenc, Walter Gieseking (the pianist), and a few more, for a total of 14 composers and 27 songs. Songs about bedtime stories, wayfaring, dreaming, nostalgia and exotic places. Oddly enough, two of the best songs in this collection are both by the famous pianist Walter Gieseking. Gutenachtliedchen aus: 21 Kinderlieder (Bedtime Song) and Geht leise aus 21 Kinderlieder (Walk Quietly). Both are imbued with a deep sense and understanding of childhood innocence tinged with wonder. Other highlights include the highly lyrical Wiegenlied Op. 41a Nr. 1 (Cradlesong) by Richard Strauss. The evocative Nimfa (Die Nymphe) Op. 56 Nr. 1 (The Nymph) written by Rimsky-Korsakov. The spirited and romantic Carl Loewe song titled Der Nöck Op. 129 Nr. 2 (Noeck the Water-Sprite), and the deeply inspired Verborgenheit aus Mörike-Lieder Nr. 12 (Seclusion) by Hugo Wolf.

Frankfurt Opera Ensemble member soprano Kateryna Kasper's voice has a range, character and temperament that easily slips into the various dramatis personae of these songs, and as such underlines their inherent joy, wonder, sadness or longing. She also brings out the oft-forgotten fact that songs from that era were miniature stories meant to entertain and arouse the listener's imagination.

Not only is pianist Hilko Dumno a seasoned accompanist, but he also teaches how to sing lieder at the University for Music and the Performing Arts in Frankfurt, so who better to understand the balance, the give and take, the mutual exchange between singer and pianist. His playing is always in support of the voice and, when called for, to urge the drama within the music forward. The instrument used in this recording is a wonderful 1876 Steinway once owned by Richard Wagner which sounds as if it came off the production line yesterday. If that piano could talk ...

"This album is a journey to bygone and dreamt of lands. A journey back to childhood, to the land of elves and nymphs, to the Romantic era. A journey back? The modern way of evaluating, optimizing and automatizing everything provokes, I believe, in many people a quiet Romantic longing for the secrets hiding behind everyday things, for the irrational, the timeless, for what makes us human. Childhood is such a precious time in which rules of imagination and play reign supreme. These same rules govern the musings of fairy tales and also of music. Romanticism is more than an era: it is also an attitude towards life and, as such, is timeless. Perhaps it is more topical today than ever." {Kateryna Kasper}