The German Brel

A big concert of two great artists. "Klaus Hoffmann sings Jacques Brel" - such was the title of the evening, which was recorded on 10 June 2006 at the large studio of the WDR in Cologne and then even broadcast live on WDR 4. We sat in the audience were curious as always with "Hoffi", even though we actually prefer to hear it with his own songs and love. Not even this wonderful evening, nothing has changed. But, as Hoffmann his "alter ego", his role model, converts represents, brought back to life, loves and felt "alive", that's just great.

The audience sat two hours these "holy WDR rooms" and got admiration partially mouth no longer. Hoffmann played, sang, danced, his band - accompanied by an accordion player - convinced as ever. We saw and heard there is a unit on stage, musicians who had fun at the music and the songs of Brel's just audible and visible.

Sure, you have to actually Klaus Hoffmann during these songs Brel not only hear but SEE. What he showed acting, mime, presentational there during the songs, led by all kinds of feelings - just like Brel's songs also. Sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, sometimes rough, sometimes very melancholic and ... just funny when "sweet" only to roar.

Bottom line, this was a really great concert - it's just nice that there are still in Germany in such a versatile artist like Klaus Hoffmann, who on stage a great bandwidth and are also able to retrieve.

Two more things: it fits everything that night, even the audience. As already mentioned, somehow all sat there and we were electrified, just listened and watched the only guys on stage. The applause subsided thoughtful songs sometimes a Sekündchen slow in coming - an audience with tact.

And to come back again to the point that I "Hoffi" rather hear still with his own songs. This is still the case - but Klaus Hoffmann has reached me that I occupied myself intensively with the songs Brel and now somehow "be heard" in his songs have. However, only with the ears of a Brel-lay, but that's better than nothing. Incidentally, Klaus Hoffmann goes with this program and his pianist Hawo bleach from the end of October on major tour - well worth a visit!

Conclusion: The double CD leaves no wishes unfulfilled - ideal for people who want to deal with the songs Brel to time, you already know or like "Hoffi". Unfortunately, the order of the songs on the CDs is not true, because the production has forgotten, counting the intermediate moderations. But that will probably be improved in a second edition. For me, that is no reason for a point deduction.