Winterreise

Franz Schubert’s Winterreise is a composition that has been highly regarded almost since its first publication in 1827. It is often cited as one of the most challenging works in the art song repertoire, rivalled only by Schubert’s other long song cycle, Die Schöne Müllerin. Shortly after their composition, Schubert played the first twelve of these songs for some of his closest friends, who at the time characterised the songs as “morose” or “heavy”. Schubert rebutted by saying that these were some of his best songs to date and that soon, his friends would regard the cycle very highly as well. Time has proven the composer right: Winterreise remains one of the most popular and widely sung works in the art song oeuvre. The performance will comprise an uninterrupted recital of the work.