Winter Showcase - Programme 8 - Schubert’s Winter Journey

Schubert Winterreise D. 911

Schubert’s emotionally harrowing winter journey as performed at the BBC studios by recent New Generation Artist, the baritone James Newby and the pianist Joseph Middleton.

Schubert wrote his epic winter journey when, as one of his friends observed, ‘Life had lost its rosiness and winter had come upon him.’ In this final song cycle, Schubert searched out and set twenty-four poems by the Romantic, Wilhelm Müller, which tell of a lonely traveller who ventures out into the snow: “A stranger I arrived; a stranger I depart.” As he passes his lover’s house, the poet writes ‘Goodnight’ on her gate post and so begins this harrowing journey of twilight hues and bleak landscapes, of snow and ice. As Schubert said, these songs are: “Truly terrible, they have affected me more than any others.” Winterreise is one of the greatest journeys in all music.

Presented by Kate Molleson.

Schubert Winterreise D. 911

James Newby (baritone)
Joseph Middleton (piano)