Schubert: Die Winterreise

Franz [Vienna] Schubert (Composer), Jörg Demus (Performer), Julius Patzak (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Jörg Demus, Julius Patzak
• Composer: Franz [Vienna] Schubert
• Audio CD (June 20, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Preiser Records
• ASIN: B00000HXX2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #689,993 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for casual listeners, June 4, 2011

By 

Joseph Levitt "primotenore" (Indianapolis, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Schubert: Die Winterreise (Audio CD)

Julius Patzak's recording of Schubert's final song cycle, Die Winterreise is exceptional for one reason: Patzak's delivery of Wilhelm Müller's poetry. Recorded when Patzak was 64 years old, there are definite signs of aging and occasional fatigue in his voice. However, I must point out that he never resorts to forcing the tone to compensate. That is a mark of a true singing artist. It is also worth noting that Patzak succeeds in creating a total artistic arc in the cycle; from the protagonist's journeying out from his town, where he has left his lover, to his eventual meeting up with a beggar and joining him to who knows what end. Side note: Patzak sings Der Leiermann in the original key of b minor, up a whole step from most renditions. The CD does not include the text nor translations of the song cycle. Jörg Demus ably accompanies Mr. Patzak; breathing with him and allowing his voice to recoup after strenuous sections of music.
There are more beautifully sung versions of Winterreise out there; my other favorites are Hermann Prey and Thomas Quasthoff, but there are few that highlight the text as poignantly as Patzak's.
Recommended.