In winter, at least discographically, there is quite a bit of traveling around. Another new Winterreise has appeared and I'd wager ten to one that it won't be the last. This time it is baritone Andrè Schuen and pianist Daniel Heide, the song duo that has already distinguished itself with their vision of the beautiful miller's daughter (reviewed here). My conclusion at the time was that this was a particularly fine, idiomatic interpretation by a great singer who moreover had the advantage of a pianist with whom he has been collaborating for a long time, who understands him precisely, if not intuitively, and through his spiritual contribution has proven to be a worthy partner for Schuen's stamina-laden vocal art. In short, it amounted to musical synergy in its finest form.
That is – as is the case with investing, incidentally – of course no guarantee for the future, but fortunately we have here once again a downright formidable reading in which the deeply layered expression of these spine-tingling songs comes into its own optimally. The key words are once again textual insight and musical imagination, which lead to magnificent results. In short, this is lieder art of the highest caliber and with that the most important thing has been said.
On this album two musicians are 'speaking', who can truly interpret narratively, not aiming for calculating effects, but have made their own the appropriate and thereby overwhelming affect that nails the listener, as it were, to his seat. The psychological drama thus unfolds in a directly compelling manner, filled with gradually increasing estrangement (Der Wegweiser), the protagonist moving through a landscape that knows no mercy. The final song, Der Leiermann, fades into eerie silence.
The fine recording was already made in December 2019 in the Schubert mecca Hohenhems. Why this album was only released now is a mystery to me. The ways of music labels are sometimes inscrutable...