Evoking Spring in Winter: Some personal reflections on returning to Schubert's cycle

Abstract

The process of interpretation that lies behind a performance of Classical music has traditionally been concealed and this paper offers insights into that process by identifying some of the factors involved. It reflects on aspects of my interpretation of Schubert's Winterreise, a work with which I have been involved for over a couple of decades. In particular it focuses in some detail on the opening bars of the song “Frühlingstraum”. The paper outlines some of my experiences with it and attempts to illuminate some of the issues lying behind why, at different times, I have chosen to play it in certain ways. This reflects on the potential of the phrase to convey a psychological state so much more complex than its simple materials might initially suggest. It considers the issue of how to balance its apparent cheerful simplicity with its potential for irony and nostalgia. The paper draws in the opinions of other musicians and acknowledges the influence of various recordings on the development of my interpretation. In particular it tells of a difference of opinion that arose in a rehearsal where the two musicians had a different concept of what this phrase should convey and how the resolution of that issue led to the development of a fresh interpretation.