When Schubert first performed some of the Winterreise songs for friends in 1827, even his closest companions did not understand their meaning, calling them 'gruesome songs'.
Composer Biography
Franz Schubert's 'My Dream' from 1822, though not autobiographical, shares clear parallels with Winterreise, such as the early death of his mother and rejection by his father.
Performer Biography
Baritone Benjamin Appl was mentored by the legendary singer Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and was named Gramophone Award Young Artist of the Year in 2016.
Interpretation
The album's performer, Benjamin Appl, views 'a dream' as a central leitmotif in Winterreise, representing a refuge from reality typical of Romanticism.
Recording & Production
This recording of Winterreise was made in October 2021 at St Silas Church, Kentish Town, and features a Bechstein model D #209776 piano.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Schubert himself recognized the momentous nature of Winterreise, stating, 'I like these songs more than all of the others I have composed before, and you will like them too'.
Composition History
Schubert was deeply affected while composing Winterreise, with his friend Joseph von Spaun noting he was 'more tormented than was ever the case with other songs'.
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