Schubert's Winter Journey by Ian Bostridge

Schubert, setting poems by Wilhelm Müller, completed the work not long before he died of syphilis (or more than likely, from the mercury poisoning that was the treatment) at 31, and was proofing the final version on his deathbed. Even though Bostridge has performed the 75-minute song cycle over 100 times, his compelling book has very little to do with actual performance and, thankfully, very little about process. Bostridge, who happened to get his degree in history and not music, as he often reminds us, explores in muscular prose (more like a baritone than tenor?) the literary, historical, and, most important, the postmodern, psychological themes that weave through Winterreise. The book, though, is a lavishly produced work of art, complete with gorgeous lithographs printed on thick, glossy paper.Ī compressed but monumental work about a monumental piece of art, Bostridge discusses the 24 songs that make up the pinnacle of German lieder (or art song), Schubert’s masterpiece of masterpieces (and he wrote many!), Winterreise. “Little” only because it was published in a compact form and at first glance looks like the Gideons had something to do with it. If there is anything worse than an actor talking about his method, it’s an obsessed tenor talking about his pallet, his breath control, or how ill he is, how he barely made the high “C” that fateful night in Lisbon.īut Bostridge’s book is a little miracle.

I opened Schubert’s Winter Journey: Anatomy of an Obsession by Ian Bostridge, the great English tenor, with trepidation. And if they have to write something, I’d rather they share the gossip, the murderous rivalries, who was sleeping with whom. I want to enjoy an actor’s performance, not their backstory. It’s always a challenge when actors talk about their “process.” Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn. “People always ask about my process …” My heart sank oh no, it was going to be one of those lectures. He came out on the stage, took his place at the podium, and looked directly at the audience. I RECENTLY WENT to see Alan Cumming give a lecture about his career.

Schubert's Winter Journey by Ian Bostridge