Anatomy of an obsession, ian bostridge, an english tenor, takes readers through in 1828, franz schubert, one of viennas most celebrated composers, wrote a cycle of songs called winterreise, or winter journey, the lyrics of which are taken from a poem written by wilhelm muller. Anatomy of an obsession, ian bostridge one of the works finest interpreters focuses on the context, resonance and personal significance of a work which is possibly the greatest landmark in the history of lieder. Matthew guerrieri, the boston globe schubert s winter journey is an unusual and compelling book. For 30 years he has been singing franz schuberts deathbed songcycle winterreise, the winter journey of a desperate traveler toward madness and death. Now it turns out that the tenor may just have given his best published performance of the piece yet with his new book, schuberts winter journey. Anatomy of an obsession is bostridges own thirty year obsession with winterreise, the german title of the song cycle. A funky rethinking of schuberts winter journey the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Anatomy of an obsession, ian bostridge one of the works finest interpreters focusses on the context, resonance and personal significance of a work which is possibly the greatest landmark in the history. In a sense, though, it was inevitable that bostridge would return to winterreise in different company, as many of his predecessors have done fischerdieskau, for instance, recorded the work with nearly a dozen pianists.
Schuberts winterreise is at the same time one of the most powerful and one of the most enigmatic masterpieces in western culture. Anatomy of an obsession in the format of a public discussion before becoming an outstanding singer, bostridge had been pursuing his academic path, studying history and philosophy. He is a wellknown tenorwriter, and franz schuberts winterreise, or winter journey composed 18271828 is among his favorite works. Tenor ian bostridge examines schubert s enigmatic masterpiece winterreise, or winter journey. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. Bostridge sings winterreise with thomas ades on piano at the barbican ec2, on 12 january.
Anatomy of an obsession ebook written by ian bostridge. However, it is the winter journey itself that most interests bostridge, and he dives into the text, explores how the words and music relate, looks for analogues in the composers life, and discusses his own performances and performances by others that helped shape his view of the piece. Bbc radio 4 book of the week, ian bostridge schuberts. In 1828, franz schubert gathered his circle of friends to perform winterreise winter journey, his latest song cycle, for them. Omnivorous and digressive, it captures the enduring mystery of this seminal work in the lieder tradition. An exploration of the worlds most famous and challenging song cycle, schubert s winter journey winterreise, by a leading interpreter of the work, who teases out the themesliterary, historical, psychologicalthat weave through the twentyfour songs that make up this legendary masterpiece. In a new book, bostridge explores schuberts winterreise. Anatomy of an obsession, which he says at the outset aims to explain, to justify, to contextualize and embroider. Anatomy of an obsession knopf, his erudite yet approachable book on winterreise, perhaps the greatest. Read schubert s winter journey anatomy of an obsession by dr ian bostridge, cbe available from rakuten kobo. Jan 02, 2015 so bostridge argues in schuberts winter journey. An exploration of the worlds most famous and challenging.
Whether or not you know schuberts winter journey, the book is gripping because it explains, in probing, simple words, how doomed love is. Ian bostridge on singing schuberts winterreise the guardian. Schuberts winter journey by ian bostridge should not be overlooked. Anatomy of an obsession, his new book about winterreise.
Schubert was a man who loved a good time, one of those inveterate hailfellowswellmet, enough so that his friends would stage what they called schubertiades. Anatomy of an obsession kindle edition by bostridge, ian. Read schubert s winter journey anatomy of an obsession by ian bostridge available from rakuten kobo. In the process he delivers a minilecture, explaining that the cult of sensibility and.
It will be published in german, finnish, dutch, korean, japanese, italian, swedish, polish, mandarin, simplified chinese, french, russian and spanish editions. Anatomy of an obsession, ian bostridge one of the works finest interpreters focusses on the. Franz schubert s winterreise is at the same time one of the most powerful and one of the most enigmatic masterpieces in. Schuberts winter journey is rangy, with bostridge ruminating on ideas and individuals as disparate as german nationalism, bob dylan, paul auster, and early conceptions of the ice age. Completed in the last months of the young schubert s life, winterreise has come to be considered. Schuberts winter journey, ian bostridge shop online for. He only uses five pages to impart his final message, that its a misguided notion. The romance of obsession in schuberts winter journey. Jan 27, 2015 that is what we have in schubert s winter journey by ian bostridge. Kindred spirits on a poetic quest ian bostridge has turned his obsession with schubert into an exquisite memoir. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Winterreise winter journey a cycle of 24 songs for voice and piano based on poems by wilhelm muller, was composed by franz schubert. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading schubert s winter journey. The english tenor and writer ian bostridge is happily and articulately fixed on a musical mountaintop. Schuberts winter journey by ian bostridge, 9780571282814, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Overview an exploration of the worlds most famous and challenging song cycle, schuberts winter journey winterreise, by a leading interpreter of the work who teases out the themesliterary, historical, psychologicalthat weave through the twentyfour songs that make up this legendary masterpiece. A new book promises to deepen the understanding of the legions of winterreise devotees, while offering encouragement to interested music. That is what we have in schubert s winter journey by ian bostridge.
Anatomy of an obsession, ian bostridge proves to be one of the most impressive writers among musical performers, as erudite and vivid as he is entertaining. Whether or not you know schuberts winter journey, the book is gripping because it explains, in probing, simple words, how doomed love is transformed into art. Schuberts winter journey by ian bostridge waterstones. Schuberts winter journey allows ian bostridge to obsess. Buy schuberts winter journey by ian bostridge with free. Franz schubert s winterreise is at the same time one of the most powerful and one of the most enigmatic masterpieces in western culture. Book of the week ian bostridge schuberts winter journey. In preparing to sing schuberts great depiction of a winter journey, it helps to draw on becketts sardonic humour as much as bob dylans guttural rasp, writes ian bostridge. Ian bostridge on singing schuberts winterreise books. The philadelphia inquirer bostridge s curiosity enriches the book and the music. An exploration of the worlds most famous and challenging song cycle, schubert s winter journey winterreise, by a lead. A winter journey with ian bostridge open source with. Anatomy of an obsession by ian bostridge knopf, 2015 among musical compositions of the highest order connected with the figure 24, the songs of winterreise occupy a special place.
Franz schuberts winterreise is at the same time one of the most powerful and one of the most enigmatic masterpieces in western culture. Bostridge s conclusion of schubert s winter journey is surprisingly diffuse, given his deep affinity for the work. Ruins is used by the singer ian bostridge in his book on schubert. Jan 03, 2015 in preparing to sing schuberts great depiction of a winter journey, it helps to draw on becketts sardonic humour as much as bob dylans guttural rasp, writes ian bostridge. Ian bostridges schuberts winter journey examines the.
The tenor ian bostridge, a leading interpreter of winterreise, has written a cross between an idiosyncratic guide to the song cycle and a freewheeling meditation on it, schuberts winter journey. Schuberts winter journey by ian bostridge should not be. Book of the week, ian bostridge schuberts winter journey bbc. All episodes of ian bostridge schubert s winter journey. Ian bostridge, one of the uks leading tenors, will present the russian translation of his new book schuberts winter journey. Anatomy of an obsession, ian bostridge one of the works finest interpreters focusses on the context, resonance and personal significance of a work which is possibly the greatest landmark in the history of lieder. The first and greatest of concept albums is what the excellent english tenor ian bostridge calls schuberts song cycle winterreise in his 2015 book, schuberts winter journey. They do not relate to the complete set of 24 major and minor keys as do bachs preludes and fugues of. Ian bostridge has sung franz schuberts winterreise, 24 haunting songs about love gone wrong, more than 100 times over 30 years. Ian bostridge discusses his new book schuberts winter. After you read this book, it might become one of yours, too. Ian bostridge is an opera singer and a song recitalist. The tenor ian bostridge, a leading interpreter of winterreise, has written a cross between an idiosyncratic guide to the song cycle and a freewheeling meditation on it, schuberts winter.
Kindred spirits on a poetic quest ian bostridge has turned his obsession with schubert. In 2016 he was awarded the the pol roger duff cooper prize for nonfiction writing for his book schuberts winter journey. Ian bostridge is the author of schubert s winter journey 4. Bostridge s curiosity enriches the book and the music. As bostridge points out in his book, the shadowiness of this figure makes. Public talk with ian bostridge and presentation of. Anatomy of an obsession was published by faber and faber in the uk and by knopf in the us in january 2015. Schuberts winter journey by ian bostridge overdrive. Anatomy of an obsession main by bostridge cbe, dr ian isbn.
Anatomy of an obsession, the idea of endless repetition. Tenor ian bostridge has a new book out, schuberts winter journey. Anatomy of an obsession, ian bostridge one of the works finest interpreters focusses on the context, resonance and personal significance of a work. Schubert s winterreise is at the same time one of the most powerful and one of the most enigmatic masterpieces in western culture.
He is a wellknown tenorwriter, and franz schubert s winterreise, or winter journey composed 18271828 is among his favorite works. Schuberts winter journey ebook by dr ian bostridge, cbe in. International praise for schubert s winter journey enthralling. Get free shipping on schubert s winter journey by ian bostridge, from. In 2014 he was humanitas professor of classical music at the university of oxford.
Think of these 24 songs as the first and alltime concept album, written in 1827 by another. That is what we have in schuberts winter journey by ian bostridge. International praise for schuberts winter journey enthralling. Schuberts winter journey allows ian bostridge to obsess caspar david friedrichs winter landscape with church ruins is used by the singer ian bostridge in his book on. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read schubert s winter journey. Winterreise has done its work on the imagination and nerves of tenor ian bostridge, over a long period, a passion distilled into schuberts winter journey. But bostridges training is clearly evident in schuberts winter journey. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read schuberts winter journey. Ian bostridge will perform winterreise and sign copies of his book at the library of congress at 2 p. Anatomy of an obsession by ian bostridge is published by faber at. Schuberts winter journey ian bostridge 9780307961631. Anatomy of an obsession, ian bostridge one of the work s finest interpreters focuses on the context, resonance and personal significance of a work which is possibly the greatest landmark in the history of lieder. Tenor ian bostridge examines schuberts enigmatic masterpiece winterreise, or winters journey. Winterreise from ian bostridge and thomas ades presto classical.
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