Die Winterreise

Die Winterreise turned out to be quite interesting. I am not sure what to think about the visual effects. Dress in white and stand against a mostly white video sequence so you seem to become part of the scenery? That works actually. I picture myself in a white suit standing in front of a screen of ballet dancers so it looks like my head is on one doing physically almost impossible things. Or racing down a steep ski slope? More food for the imagination. But what about Schubert? I just happened to be reading Martha Nussbaum in the auditorium prior to Kevin's lecture and read that most Americans do not have compassion for the poor because they feel that the poor have brought their difficulties on themselves because of their laziness. If that is so, it would be hard to feel compassion for the main "character" in the song cycle since he is infatuated with a woman that does not feel the same for him. In which case, there being many fish in the sea, he ought to get over her and move on. But he never does. Carving her name in the ice. On a tree. Shedding tears in the snow that will melt and flow by her house. Hoping for a letter! Expressing her change of heart? Jeesh. The Romantics. What can I say? Getting there and enjoying the show - was it opera? - was only part of the fun last night. It was snowing when we left, and when we got there, and it was a full blizzard when we left. So much so that visibility was gone on the drive home and it was a pretty harrowing experience. We are still amazed we made it. Die Winterreise!