doriastories 's review for:

Schubert's Winter Journey: Anatomy of an Obsession by Ian Bostridge

4.0

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It was such a treat to read this book slowly, savoring each song-chapter, while listening to Schubert's Winterreise, song by song. It's filled with interesting pictures and ideas, most of which are not specifically musical, but all of which relate to the song cycle and individual songs very particularly. Bostridge draws upon literary, historical, socio-political and scientific sources, in his quest for a deeper understanding of Schubert's haunting work. Here and there he also includes his own personal experience in singing and performing the song cycle, describing his own experience - his musical collaborations and choices; his long-standing relationship with Winterreise has the feel of that with an old, familiar and somewhat difficult friend.