Franz Schubert "Winterreise" (Winter Journey)

poems by Wilhelm Müller
D.911
 

No shadow without light. No light without shadow?

Solace in solitude, desire for suffering and longing for death belong to the human condition. Such feelings may not be evenly distributed across the population, yet they are present in everyone, be it only unconsciously and in homoeopathic quantities. Across the ages, bards and artists have been inspired by these dark emotions, depicting and devising images for them in their works. Wilhelm Müller's poem cycle "Winterreise" (published 1823/1824) is without doubt one of the highlights of this genre. Nor are there many rivals for the melancholy depths of Schubert's setting of these poems. No listener can resist the pull that Schubert's music gives Müller's Wanderer on his winter journey.

The Grundmann Quartet collaborates with the baritone Florian Götz to present the "Winterreise" in a new guise: oboist Eduard Wesly has arranged Schubert's piano part for cor anglais (the oboe’s melancholy big sister) and string trio. Between the two parts of the cycle, the Grundmann Quartet plays two instrumental movements by Schubert, which suit the mood of the unfolding story and give it another dimension.

Good Night
The Weathervane
Frozen Tears
Feeling Numb
The Linden Tree
The Watercourse
On the River
Looking Back
Will O’ the Wisp
Rest
Dream of Spring
Solitude

Andantino from Sonata No. 20
D.959

Ländler No. 5
D.790

The Post
The Gray Head
The Crow
The Last Hope
In the Village
The Stormy Morning
Illusion
The Signpost
The Wayside Inn
Courage
The Mock Suns
The Hurdy-gurdy Man