Singers of the Century: Hermann Prey – Winterreise, Op. 89, D. 911 (Remastered 2019)

Schubert's song cycle "Winterreise", which was completed in October 1827 one year before the composer's death, is based on 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller. The intensity and the emotional inflections of the poetry are carefully built up to express the sorrows of the lover, and are developed to an almost pathological degree from the first to the last note - and this musical architecture is a perfect match for the voice of Hermann Prey. With Gerald Moore on the piano Prey is accompanied by the probably world's greatest accompanist of the 20th century. In a congenial recording session they created a deeply felt and impressive description of the sufferings and physical pains of the lonely wanderer. Elena Gerhardt, another famous singer of Schubert's music is reported to have said about "Winterreise" in the early years of the 20th century: "You have to be haunted by this cycle to be able to sing it". - Hermann Prey is certainly haunted in this recording, and he haunts the audience!