Ringer sheds new perspectives on Schubert's songs, focusing on their incomparable dramatic power, which often exceeds that of many a full-fledged opera. But Schubert's 'stage' was not to be the public theatres of the repressive Metternich regime in Vienna, but the far less censorable 'theatre of the mind'. Schubert's theatre of song would spring to life in intimate social gathering of like-minded friends, wherever a singer and a Piano were available. An accompanying CD from NAXOS Records features superb performances by pianists Michael Volle, Roman Trekel, Julia Borchert, Wolfgang Holzmair and others.