Schubert stated that the lieder in Winterreise demanded more from him than any other work, and he poured his entire soul into them, driven by an 'elan towards the beautiful'.
Composition History
Both the poet Wilhelm Müller and the composer Franz Schubert died young; Müller at 34, the year before Winterreise was published, and Schubert at 31, in 1828.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the Église Évangélique Saint-Pierre in Paris, France, from April 26 to May 1, 2010.
Performer Biography
Barbara Hendricks, the soprano on this recording, initially did not consider performing Schubert's Winterreise because it was written for a tenor and considered a male domain.
Compositional Technique
The piano accompaniment in Winterreise is described by musicologist Klaus Geitel as playing the role of a guide who, despite knowing everything, is 'struck dumb'.
Composition History
Winterreise, composed in 1827, one year before Schubert's death, begins with the words 'Gute Nacht' (Good night), mirroring the ending of his earlier cycle, Die schöne Müllerin.
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