The songs collected for this recital ‘Ladies only’ mark Schubert’s strong empathy for women in poetry. Since uncertainty and emotional fluctuations were seen as particular female qualities, it is not surprising that poets in the Biedermeier era (1815-1848) used female personae to express their feelings of distress.

Nienke Oostenrijk has done excellent research into the meaning of these songs and therefore she has also contacted the famous English philosopher Roger Scruton, who wrote the essay " Schubert is needed now more than ever" . She paints an accurate picture of how feminine feelings have played a role in Schubert's life. In the performance by Nienke Oostenrijk and Marianne Boer you can hear how they interpret these songs with great understanding of text and context. This creates a beautiful combination of depth and naturalness, in which the interaction is truly sublime.