Austrian mezzo-soprano Sophie Rennert, accompanied by expert pianist Joseph Middleton, presents a selection of Schubert lieder blending beloved masterpieces with lesser-known gems.

Sophie Rennert’s extensive operatic repertoire spans Baroque to contemporary works, encompassing Purcell, Rameau, Handel and Vivaldi, through Mozart and operetta – numerous recordings with leading figures in the early music scene further highlight the quality of her voice. Hailed by critic David Nice as “a mezzo of many colours, subtlety, dramatic intelligence and a crucially brilliant top”, it was only a matter of time before she lent her voice to Schubert’s highly dramatic songs.

The title of this recital, Irrlichter (will-o’-the-wisp), her first for BIS Records, comes from Rennert’s favourite song, Des Fischers Liebesglück. And much like a will-o’-the-wisp, the composer leaves us in a state of uncertainty. Is the song a memory or just a deep, unfulfilled longing? This feeling, which permeates all of Schubert’s music, is in a sense the thread that runs through this collection of songs with their twilight atmosphere. Every single one of these Schubert settings depicts a different dream, a different longing to be discovered.