Journey For One: A Winterreise Fantasy For Solo Piano
Navona, 2021
8/10
Listen to journey for one: a winterreise fantasy for solo piano
It’s been a couple of centuries since Schubert penned Winterreise, and though many others have interpreted the work before, here the pianist Hilary Demske, armed with a Steinway, transforms the cycle into a series of works as Journey For One.
“Gute Nacht” starts the 24 track listen with flowing keys that are as chilling as they are exciting where both restraint and adventurousness enter, and it isn’t long until “Erstarrung” emits complicated progressions that comes with a bit tension amid the cascading beauty.
Elsewhere, “Der Lindenbaum” showcases a percussive effect alongside the swift keys, while “Irrlicht” glides with a reflective quality amid the agile mood. “Die Post”, one of the album’s best, then illustrates meticulous key manipulation as the swift playing is nothing short of stunning.
Nearing the end, “Der Stürmische Morgen” rumbles with a booming, cinematic presence that’s quite exciting, even ominous, in its grand gesture, and “Der Leiermann” exits the listen with a gentle, poetic demeanor that benefits from Demske’s sublime vision.
Far from a standard reworking of this classic, Demske adds an entirely new personality with her prepared elements, detailed attention to melody and profound dexterity with her craft.
Travels well with: Dmitry Ishkhanov- Virtuoso; Kristina Marinova- 4 Rhapsodies