Album insights
Andrè Schuen, a South Tyrolean baritone, has taken on the challenge of presenting Schubert's "Die schöne Müllerin," a timeless song cycle, as his debut album with Deutsche Grammophon. Hailing from the Ladin-speaking village of La Val in South Tyrol, Italy, Schuen grew up trilingual - speaking Ladin, Italian, and German. This linguistic diversity is reflected in his versatile singing repertoire. Studying vocal performance at the University Mozarteum in Salzburg, Schuen showcased his talent as Guglielmo in "Così fan tutte" during the Salzburg Festival. For over a decade, Schuen and pianist Daniel Heide have collaborated, creating a familiar intimacy that resonates in the natural expression required for the songs of the miller's tale. Schuen emphasized the importance of recording "Die schöne Müllerin" at a young age to preserve the bright colors in his voice, as aging voices tend to darken over time. Their interpretation of Schubert's work, according to the Bavarian Radio, is deeply moving and profound, conveying emotional depth without excessive analysis or overt guiding markers.