Austrian mezzo-soprano Sophie Rennert joins forces with pianist Joseph Middleton for a thoughtfully curated Schubert recital, bringing together well-loved lieder alongside lesser-known treasures.
Rennert’s operatic work spans a wide stylistic range—from Baroque composers such as Henry Purcell, Jean-Philippe Rameau, George Frideric Handel and Antonio Vivaldi to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and operetta. Her extensive recording work, often in collaboration with leading early music specialists, reflects both the flexibility and refinement of her voice. Critic David Nice has described her as “a mezzo of many colours, subtlety, dramatic intelligence and a crucially brilliant top”—qualities that find a natural home in the expressive world of Franz Schubert’s songs.
The recital takes its title, Irrlichter (“will-o’-the-wisp”), from Rennert’s favourite piece, “Des Fischers Liebesglück.” Like the elusive light it evokes, the song leaves its meaning unresolved: is it a memory, or an unfulfilled longing? This sense of ambiguity runs deep in Schubert’s music and forms a unifying thread throughout the programme. Each song opens a different emotional landscape—fleeting, introspective, and often suspended somewhere between dream and reality.
Available in high-resolution FLAC 24-bit / 96 kHz, this recording captures every nuance of Rennert’s voice and the subtle interplay at the piano, offering a listening experience that fully reflects the intimacy and depth of these performances.
