New Music

New album: Franz Schubert's Winterreise

Available now!

Baritone Nathaniel Watson and pianist Michael McMahon, both based in Montreal, give us their rendition of Franz Schubert's monumental song cycle, Winterreise, written in 1827, the year before Schubert's tragic, early death. The 24 settings of poems of Wilhelm Müller are a journey deep into the psyche of a young man, unlucky in love, who sets out with neither friend nor destination, in the dead of winter, an epic figure in the dawning of German Romanticism. In this recording, also made in winter (and during a pandemic), Watson and McMahon share their experience and lifelong passion for Schubert. The composer, who had already composed some 600 Lieder in his short life, confessed to his close circle of friends that these songs moved him more than all the others.

Sound Clips

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  1. 1
    Schubert Winterreise: Rückblick 2:14
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  2. 2
    Schubert Winterreise: Rast 3:23
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  3. 3
    Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius 6:56
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  4. 4
    Hugo Wolf: Auf eine Christblume I 4:54
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  5. 5
    J.S. Bach: B-minor Mass 4:30
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  6. 6
    J.S. Bach: Merkt, und hort, ihr Menschenkinder 5:03
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  7. 7
    Bach St. John Passion: Eilt, eilt 3:52
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Recording Catalogue

  • Honegger, Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher , New York Philharmonic, Kurt Masur, cond. (NYP Special Editions 0108 B.) 1994. 
  •  Music of Antoine Busnoys, In Hydraulis & Other Works. Pomerium (New York City). Alexander Blachly, dir. (Dorian 90184). 1993. 

    Barber, Dover Beach. Alexander String Quartet, (Amplitude CLCD-2009). 1993. 

  • Handel, Sosarme. AmorArtis Orchestra (New York City), Johannes Somary, cond. (Newport Classic NPD 85575). 1994. 

  • Handel, Ezio. Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Richard Auldon Clark, cond. (VOX Classic 2-7503). 1995. 

  • Chamber Music of Andrew Imbrie. Parnassus (New York City), Anthony Korf, dir. (New World Records 80441-2). 1995. 

  • Music of Caudio Spies, (CRI 718). 1996.  

  • Bach, J.S., Matthäus-Passion. American Bach Soloists (San Francisco), Jeffrey Thomas, cond. (KOCH 3-7424-2). 1996.  

  • James D. Wagoner, Songs and Shadows. Featured on tracks of Song of Solomon. I Cantori di New York, Mark Shapiro, dir. (PGM 401). 1997. 

  • Bruce Adolphe, Mikhoels the Wise (excerpt). Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz, cond. Milken Archive for American Jewish Music, (Naxos 8.559413). 2000.  

  • Handel, Acis and Galatea. Les Boréades (Montreal), Eric Milnes, cond. (ATMA ACD 2 2302). 2003. 

  • Bach, J.S., Johannes-Passion. Trinity Cathedral Choir (Portland, OR), Eric Milnes, cond. (PGM 111). 2006. 

  • Bach, J.S., Johannes-Passion. Les Voix Baroques, Arion Baroque Orchestra, (Montreal). (ATMA ACD2 2611). 2012.