Page 78 - Winterreise Coverage Book, 2021 - 22

person, and that is why I started singing again. Within years my focus somehow went from

business to singing.”

Appl had always had a passion for singing, and soon he was working with the most renowned

German baritone in history- Dietrich Fischer Dieskau.

“I met him when he was quite old.” Appl said. “I had the great fortune of having a master

class with him, but afterwards he offered me his private lessons, and we would work for 4-5
days in a row, and for 5-6 hours every day. It was the greatest gift I received because he was
more than just a singing teacher, he was really a mentor. He taught technique and
interpretation, but also stage presence of how to put programs together, and how to approach
promoters. It was a very close relationship, and it was a really great gift to me.”

As part of the concert, Appl sang the famed German piece titled Winterreise, composed by
Franz Schubert. It tells the story of the early death of a mother, the rejection of a father, and
many love songs that ache for the finding of oneself within. Appl discussed performing the
piece.

“First of all, it makes it so special because it is a piece which contains all human emotions
you can possibly think of,” he said. “So, there is this incredible depth and richness of colors,
of emotions, of feelings, and of musical languages as well. Some of the pieces are very short
and have a completely different writing than the next one or the one before. For a German
lieder singer, it is the mountain peak of any music ever written. […] Every time when you
perform it you can walk left or right, or straight, that always brings you on different paths.
And that’s also the most rewarding thing of this piece. That you have so many choices. When
you ask a question about something, you don’t actually get an answer, but you get 10 more
questions.”

Benjamin Appl’s concert was well received by those in attendance. Ethan McConnell,
freshman in vocal performance, shared his thoughts after the concert.

“I thought Ben did very well, especially since it was all memorized for him,” McConnell
said. “It just seems really hard to do all of that music, all memorized, without taking a break
in between. So, I felt very impressed.”

Appl has collaborated with some of the most prestigious stages in the world, such as the
Philharmonia Orchestra, the NHK Symphony Orchestra, and the Academy of Ancient Music-
to name a few. Some recent highlights include three recitals at New York City’s Park Avenue
Armory featuring all three Schubert song cycles, and his role debut as Guglielmo in “Cosi fan
tutte” with Classical Opera Company to name a few more.

Appl’s famed career grew with his passion for music, and his hard work in the profession of
vocal music. Appl noted the perks of his career.