Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Ralf Gothoni :: Schubert: Winterreise

A rare Winterreise from a bass

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 01/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hans Hotter made a famous Winterreise in the 78 era, but since then few deep bases have attempted the work. Schubert wrote the cycle for a tenor, and lower voices sometimes don't sound 'right,' but inaddition there are questions of agility and flexibility as well as emotional range. Martti Talvela eliminates all these doubts with a sensitive, superbly sng Winterreise. He doesn't reach for extremes of vocal tone, and in that regard he isn't quite the natural lieder singer that Hotter was. Interpretation is fairly straightforward; this absence of mannerisms and over-inflection comes as a relief to this listener after recordings from Matthias Goerne and Ian Bostridge that border on the precious. Talvela's performance is aided by exceptionally clear and natural sound, and his accompanist, Ralf Gathoni, is an enormous asset."