Schubert's Four Seasons

After their albums "A Soprano's Schubertiade" (jpc 8203323) and "Elysium" (jpc 11171846), Carolyn Sampson and Joseph Middleton present a new recital devoted to Schubert's lieder with the theme of the changing seasons. There are other successful musical tributes to the four seasons, but Franz Schubert, a lover of nature, evokes them here in his lieder. Winter, steeped in nostalgia, is represented here by three lieder in which Schubert's hero sings about a lost love. But the somber thoughts quickly give way to spring, which stands for optimism and hope as nature comes back to life: "Welcome, with your cheerful throng of newly awakened creatures around me". As life in summer is in full swing, the hero now seems uncertain whether his search for love will have a happy ending. In autumn, which is evoked here in six lieder, the hero can only admit his failure, which is reflected in nature preparing itself for a long sleep: "Ah, as the stars in the sky disappear, so does the hope of life". Clarinetist Michael Collins accompanies the duo on a lied, "Der Hirt auf dem Felsen", Schubert's penultimate composition. This long lied, inspired by yodeling, ends with hope for a better life, as spring is around the corner and the prophetic words "Now I prepare to go wandering" announce the approaching death of the composer.