Vera Schneidenbach Was kann schöner sein (CD)

“When I'm on stage, I give my audience my all,” says Vera Schneidenbach, who can pride herself on being the most well-traveled singer to come out of the former GDR: she has covered millions of kilometers by plane and car and more than 30,000 nautical miles on the world's oceans on her tours so far.

Although Vera Schneidenbach's repertoire includes almost everything from evergreens to folklore, concert songs and folksy hits, there is one genre she is particularly fond of: musical. Not only the international musical, but also that of the GDR. Vera is personally friends with the master arranger and composer Gerhard Kneifel.

Pieces like 'Andrea' by Rudi Werion, 'Mein Freund Bunbury' by Gerd Natschinski or 'Für 5 Groschen Urlaub' by Gerhard Honig. From these works and from works like 'Heute Nacht kommt Conny' and 'Karambolage', Vera has woven a colorful bouquet of melodies.

Together with musical melodies from the international success stories 'Cabaret', 'Oklahoma', 'Can-Can' and 'Annie Get Your Gun', they occupy a place of honor in Vera's repertoire. The melodies of George Gershwin, Charly Chaplin, Jay Livingston and Charles Trenet get under her skin. No wonder that her versions of these world successes also get under the skin of her listeners.

HORST-DIETER CZEMBOR

Schwerte, December 1997