Prégardien père and fils have been performing together for several years and this disc of duets – some original, most in arrangements – is often delightful. Both tenors display family traits of appealing mellifluousness and impeccable musicality. Together they communicate a sense of something homely, of improvisation and of singing for pure enjoyment.

Perhaps inevitably, though, it’s the folksier numbers that come off better. Quoted in the slightly rambling booklet-note, Christoph Prégardien mentions how even he had doubts at first regarding the wisdom of arranging Schubert for two voices (although ‘Licht und Liebe’ was originally a tenor-soprano duet and ‘Widerspruch’ was also composed in a version for vocal ensemble). In the event, the more reflective songs are more successful than the ballads. I found myself giving in to the luscious additions to ‘Nacht und Träume’ and ‘Wandrers Nachtlied’ (and the version of Schumann’s setting of the same poem). ‘Erlkönig’ and ‘Der Zwerg’ lose narrative intensity, though, while the additions and voice-swapping can feel fussy – ‘Auf dem Wasser zu singen’ ends up sounding earthbound.

The opening four folksy songs by Friedrich Silcher are more straightforwardly enjoyable, as are Hermann Zilcher’s versions of four Brahms Volkslieder. Zilcher’s own duets, performed with swagger and sensitivity by turns, are more eccentric, their use of two sparingly employed harmonicas adding a strange hint of Bob Dylan. The final two numbers – a dreamy folksong and Cesar Bresgen’s ‘O du stille Zeit’ – prove irresistible. Michael Gees, himself responsible for some of the arrangements, contributes excellent accompaniment throughout.