Page 201 - Winterreise Coverage Book, 2021 - 22

the appropriateness of this music for the female voice as well as the
male.

But I have to admit, I found quite a lot of the film distracting. Pondering
this after the event, I suspect it is because I have my own internal image

of the lonely wanderer and for me, he (or she) is not in an awe-inspiring
Alpine landscape, but rather trudging along a snowy road, in a flat,

featureless landscape only occasionally relieved by a signpost, a village,
a stream….. I also found some of Appl’s acting a little contrived – he
didn’t always seem entirely comfortable (and presumably quite cold!)
out in the snow drifts, and for me, he was always far more convincing

when inside with Baillieu (and there are some wonderful moments
when he sings seated at the pianist’s side, a nod, perhaps, to the way
the songs would have been performed in Schubert’s day). Also, I don’t

need visual cues to understand the narrative – but for this reason, I
think the film is an excellent introduction for the Winterreise ingénue,
the narrative compellingly matched in striking images and impressive
sound quality which allows us to fully appreciate and enjoy composer,

music and of course the musicians.

Winterreise is available via the BBC iPlayer and Marquee TV

Listen to a podcast with Benjamin Appl

Benjamin Appl’s new recording of Winterreise, with James Baillieu, is
available on the Alpha Classics label