Review of Cyril Dubois – Schubert: A Winter Journey

Among the long lineage of his most recent discography with French works, “Winterreise” stands out as a standout. In contrast to his commitment to Fauré’s songwriting, Cyril Dubois displays a resilient force here. His wanderer, disillusioned with love and the world, is not a dull melancholic, but an acute observer. DuBois reads the twenty-four songs with a steady step and voice. Anne Le Bozec’s accompaniment on duty finds no recognizable stance in a soundscape less moody than hardened. DuBois makes legitimate use of higher tones and fermata, giving the interrogation passages of Wilhelm Müller and Schubert a direct, romantic tone. The articulation in this recording, made during the pandemic, moves somewhat unbalanced between perfect placement and consonants that are almost too soft. The effort it takes to create a distinctive gesture deserves great appreciation.

Schubert: Winter Journey D 911

Cyril Dubois (tenor), Anne Le Bouzec (piano)
NoMadMusic