Particularly renowned for his insightful and sensitive performances, acclaimed tenor Ian Bostridge is on fine form in these three major Schubert song cycles. Alongside his affecting interpretation of Die schöne Müllerin and deeply felt Winterreise is his celebrated recording of Schwanengesang, which won golden opinions for its ‘marvellously haunting expression’ (Gramophone).

This three-disc set also includes a bonus DVD of Winterreise with pianist Julius Drake, as well as the documentary film 'Over the Top with Franz'.

“Schubert is the greatest songwriter of all time; the composer who made what had been a minor genre into one of the lynchpins of Western classical music and one of its deepest forms of expression. And it was in his three song cycles, composed in the last eight years of his life that he reached furthest and deepest, conjuring whole new worlds out of the barest means: an expressionist, an absurdist, an existentialist avant la lettre. No recording can be a definitive statement of what one feels about any work, least of all these shape-shifting masterpieces; but to explore them in the company of a brace of dazzling pianist-musicians has been one of the great experiences of my life.” – Ian Bostridge

Contents:
CD 1 [63.48]
Die schone Mullerin D795
Ian Bostridge, Mitsuko Uschida (2003)
 
CD 2 [69.27]
Winterreise D911
Ian Bostridge, Leif Ove Andsnes (2004)
 
CD 3 [60.51]
- Geheimnis D491
- An Schwager Kronos D369
- Widerschein D949
- Schwanengesang D957
Ian Bostridge, Antonio Pappano (2008)

DVD
1) Winterreise, D911
Ian Bostridge (tenor), Julius Drake (piano)
Actors: Kyrie Hardiman, Adam Pudney, Liz Renken,Bob Smith, Sirena Tocco
Designer: Ian Macneil
Executive Producer: Peter West
Producer: Gordon Baskerville
Director: David Alden

This is a unique dramatization of Schubert’s terrifying and deeply-moving portrayal of human desolation. Studio sets, actors, costumes and props lend the song cycle a new close-up dynamism, extend its interpretative possibilities and uncover fresh allusion and meaning.

2) Over The Top With Franz
Extracts Staged by David Alden
Producer: Gordon Baskerville
Director: Peter West

This documentary illuminates the difficulties of bringing Winterreise to the screen. Focusing on the developing relationships of the artists, from first rehearsal to final day of filming, this is a rare and humorous insight into the collaborative process.