When I had a break in writing this blog last year in the middle of Covid restrictions, I did visit the few conserts and operas that were shown with the appropriate restrictions. One of these concerts was Ian Bostridge’s interpretation of Franz Schubert’s song cycle “Die schöne Müllerin” (The Fair Maiden of the Mill) at the Mänttä Music Festival. The performance was breath-taking, so when this year it was possible to hear Ian Bostridge’s performance of Franz Schubert’s song cycle “Winterreise” (Winter Journey), it was not hard to guess, it would be important to go to Mänttä again. Bostridge is perhaps the best-known living interpreter of “Winterreise” and he has also written a book about this song cycle (by the way, I warmly recommend reading it).
Bostridge was accompanied by pianist Saskia Giorgini just
like last year and equally superbly. Bostridge is a very physical interpreter,
he moves on the stage with the music and that is why – despite the fact that
one is tempted to close the eyes and just listen to the beautiful singing – I always
try to also look at him. Bostridge also has a habit of varying his interpretations,
which he has also admitted in interviews, so even if you have heard him sing a
piece once, the following time he may have changed the interpretation and thus
the piece may sound different.
This time, too, his performance was enchanting. Bostridge can
really make the text of the cycle live. And latest the last song of the cycle “Der
Leiermann” (The Hurdy-Gurdy Man) broke the bank. Such immense melancholy filled
the whole performance, when Bostridge sang about the poor player. Unbelievably
wonderful performance!
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