Schubert's "Swan Song" cycle of fourteen Lieder, written at the very end of his tragically brief life, contains some of his most perfect and moving songs, including "Liebesbotschaft," "Ständchen," "Abschied," and "Der Doppelgänger". The album is rounded out with an additional four Schubert songs of sublime beauty, including the hypnotic "Nachtstück" or "Night Piece". The performance of these sublime works is generally reserved to the most insightful vocal artists, and one of those who has attracted worldwide notice recently is the young German baritone Christian Gerhaher. Born in Straubing, Germany, Gerhaher studied with Paul Kuen and Raimund Grumbach. He also took courses with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, and Inge Borkh. In 1998, he won the International Award Pro Musicis in Paris/New York. In 2002, he was awarded the German prize Echo Klassik for Best Lied Interpretation for the recording of Schubert's Winterreise. As a Lied accompanist Gerold Huber has performed at the most prestigious festivals and also enjoys a career as solo pianist.

Schubert: Schwanengesang Track Listing:

1. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Liebesbotschaft
2. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Frühlingssehnsucht
3. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Ständchen
4. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Aufenthalt
5. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: In der Ferne
6. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Abscheid
7. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Der Atlas
8. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Ihr Bild
9. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Das Fischermädchen
10. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Die Stadt
11. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Am Meer
12. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Der Doppelgänger
13. Schwanengesang (Swan Song), song cycle for voice & piano, D. 957: Die Taubenpost D. 965A
14. Totengräbers Heimweh ('O Menschheit, o Leben...'), song for voice & piano, D. 842
15. Nachtstück ('Wenn über Berge sich der Nebel breitet'), song for voice & piano, D. 672 (Op. 36/2)
16. An den Mond ('Guess, lieber Mond'), song for voice & piano, D. 193 (Op. 57/3)
17. Im Frühling ('Still sitz ich'), song for voice & piano, D. 882