 Schubert écrivit son Voyage d’Hiver comme tous ses Lieder pour ses amis, et pour lui-même s’il voulait bien le chanter en s’accompagnant au piano, voix moyenne, aisée, qui s’offre à tout chanteur mais demande l’impossible à l’interprète. Xavier Sabata a-t-il eu raison de se l’approprier ? Le timbre d’un contreténor ici est plus qu’exotique, un élément exogène, qui rend chaque mot, chaque inflexion périlleux, au point que et la ligne et les mots sombrent dans un artifice général. On n’entend plus vraiment le dénuement et l’hiver, on est dans un salon confortable face à une appropriation qui n’apporte rien ni à la musique de Schubert, ni à l’histoire de l’interprétation du cycle au disque. Ce n’est pas faute de la part de Xavier Sabata de comprendre ce que Schubert dit ici, mais son instrument même lui refuse de nous faire ressentir ce qu’il y voit. Alors pour les curieux absolus, pour les compulsifs qui veulent chaque Winterreise imaginable (et même ceux qu’on ne saurait imaginer) ce disque aura le mérite d’exister. (Discophilia - Artalinna.com) (Jean-Charles Hoffelé) Xavier Sabata has long since established himself as an exponent of the great roles for countertenor and he is a welcome guest on the stages of opera houses worldwide . His discography to date illustrates his voice - motivated focus on music from 1600 to 1800 while also presenting the portrait of an artist who engages with intellectual concepts across the world and throughout the ages . His debut album on Berlin Classics marks his departure from Baroque terrain and makes him a wanderer, in more senses than one, facing the emotional and vocal challenges of Schubert’s “Winter Journey” . 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! Every time something is performed, a new work of art is created . ” Franz Schubert’s Winterreise , which has been interpreted by all the leading male and female singers, is widely regarded as the peak of Lieder singing . Every song in the two - part cycle of 24 settings of poems by Wilhelm Müller throws a brilliant light on successive scenes, moments and thoughts in the journey of the Wanderer . His approach to the work is prompted by the same challenge that confronts every singer who tackles Winterreise . “When I sing the Winter Journey I wish to understand this being that seeks to communicate itself . I am not out to deliver perfect vocal technique . Nor do I judge the characters that I portray . I do not pity them either . I do not think of the Wanderer as impoverished . The Wanderer is essentially a student of life . Of course he must come to terms with a particular environment , but he is not concerned about how he does it . He has real courage, too, because it takes a lot to stand up for yourself in such a situation . I appreciate him just as he is . ”
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