Hermann Prey: The Schubert Song Cycles (1984)

In his finest interpretations Hermann Prey sang Winterreise and Die schone Miillerin with a captivatingly natural phrasing that flowed organically like a river and as such was the very opposite of the more intellectual approach of his rival, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. The velvety, silky timbre of his soft-grained and yet distinctively striking baritone voice, his charm, his excellent diction and the naturalness of his delivery spiced with a hint of emotion - it is all this that distinguishes the truly outstanding lieder singer.