I own several brilliant versions of this most famous song cycle, Hans Hotter (with Gerald Moore) being my favourite.

Does anyone recommend another interpretation ? By the way, I am still looking for a Winterreise sung by a woman. Ok, I already own Fassbaender/Reimann, many people love it, but in my OWN opinion she just cannot sing.

Thank you for suggestions.

Bernard

The Winterreise recordings I think most highly of are the two Peter Schreier CDs, one live with Sviatoslav Richter, and the second a studio recording with Andras Schiff. Both are excellent. The recent Christoph Pregardien recording with Andreas Staier (on fortepiano) is also excellent.

Christa Ludwig made a recording some years ago on DG with James Levine. I owned it, but sold it since I didn't like it. I'm not aware of any other versions by women (other than Fassbaender, who I also don't much like).

Ross

IMO no one ever sang Winterreise better than Gerhard Husch. He was also the first to record it - back in the late 1930s! The sound quality is definitely "historic", but if you can listen past the limitations of the recording, you should be rewarded with a performance that really digs into the heart of this great work. Also, if you like his voice, check out his recording of Schumann's Dicterliebe. Very fine.