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Winterreise, D9.11
17 June 2004
Angelika-Kauffmann-Saal, Schwarzenberg
(Schubertiade)
Simon Keenlyside, baritone
Malcolm Martineau, piano
What the critics say
.. Vorarlberger Nachrichten, 19. 6. 2004
Translated by Ursula Turecek
Schubertiade: On a breathless "Winterreise“ with Keenlyside
..
Incredible, the degree of stress great singers of our day expose themselves. The day before yesterday and the day after tomorrow a current opera performance as Friedrich Schenker’s “Faustus” in Kassel [actually this was the Faust at the ROH in London, the critic is wrong !], in between his first “Winterreise” in front of the discerning ears of the Schubertians in Schwarzenberg. 45 year old British baritone Simon Keenlyside really does not make his life easy, and accordingly he does not succeed in delivering this premiere without any mental strain at the beginning and devoid of a little huskiness in the voice at times.
..
However, the interpretation of this singer (who has been appreciated at the Schubertiade for years already) makes up for this to a great extent and makes this performance of Schubert's song cycle a moving event of high musical intensity. It is dominated by an inner restlessness that does not manifest itself in quick tempi but in a sort of permanent breathlessness. In a quick succession of these 24 songs there is not the slightest space for drawing breath, for coughing, for a “breather” in between. Neither for the singer nor for the audience.
..
Enormous approval
A significant interpretation: Schubert’s wanderer as driven by Fate in an aura of violability, of existential ominousness and desperation. An important part of this remarkably simple, inner approach is the Scotsman Malcolm Martineau, presently unrivalled as accompanist, whose eyes are fixed far more on the singer’s lips than on the notes.
Enormous approval in the audience and a long autograph hour.