Schubert: Winterreise

Catalan countertenor Xavier Sabata sings the work, written one year before the composer's death, with the support of pianist Francisco Poyato and in doing so is one of the first of his fach to have tackled the cycle He himself sees no reason why his voice register should be an issue .."Schubert had friends who were not professional singers and still sang his Lieder I am so grateful that women have taken it upon themselves to sing this work Why should a counter tenor not sing it too, if he succeeds in bringing out the deep inner conflicts, feelings and meanings of the piece?" "I am no lover of assignment to particular registers," says Xavier Sabata .."Many people are happier when they can pigeonhole a thing That may even provide a degree of reassurance But music and art must never have labels stuck to them!