Schubert's Winter Journey: Solitude, Twilight, Universality

Winterreise is undoubtedly one of the most foundational compositions in Western music history. Schubert’s score has earned a place of honour at the core of our musical canon, alongside such works as Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Few others have achieved such profound and universal scope, such extraordinary psychological insight, or such worldwide fame. And yet, Winterreise is a sombre and tragic piece that deals with the painful truths of human existence, such as solitude and the suffering brought on by unhappy love affairs. This lecture explores the song cycle’s origins, poetic themes, and musical influences, offering a deeper understanding of Schubert’s 1827 masterpiece.

Presented in French

In connection with the Wolfgang Holzmair & Olivier Godin concert on the same day, at 7:30 p.m.