Page 175 - Winterreise Coverage Book, 2021 - 22

7 March 2022
ALBUM REVIEWS

Review: Schubert – Winterreise – Benjamin Appl, James

Baillieu

Azusa Ueno

Winterreise is what we could well consider a hallmark of the Romantic lied genre for
its narrative quality and beautiful melodies. For Schubert, however, it was anything
but. It was a series of ‘horrifying songs’ and in the emotional respect, this is perhaps
true: poignancy, elation, loneliness, tragedy, enigma – all of these sentiments
manifest so powerfully that we have no choice except to experience them alongside
the protagonist. For all its sadness, baritone Benjamin Appl feels Winterreise
represents something more: a quest for warmth and security.