Schubert’s Der Zwerg, D. 771, unfolds here as a compact but deeply unsettling drama, shaped by the voice of mezzo-soprano Sophie Rennert and the sharply etched piano of Joseph Middleton.
This ballad—one of the composer’s darkest—draws on a tale of jealousy and murder at sea, and its psychological tension is sustained throughout with remarkable focus. Rennert’s interpretation leans into the narrative intensity without exaggeration, while Middleton provides a restless, atmospheric underpinning that never loses clarity.
The video adopts a layered, visually stylised approach, reinforcing the work’s sense of psychological tension and narrative intensity.
This release introduces the upcoming album Irrlichter – Schubert Songs, to be issued by BIS Records on 24 April 2026, a programme that explores Schubert’s shifting emotional landscapes—hovering, as the title suggests, between memory and longing.
Listen to the album: here.
This article was produced by the Moto Perpetuo editorial team.
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