General Information

• Length: ±70 minutes
• Instrumentation: String ensemble (3.3.3.2.1)

This new arrangement of Franz Schubert's Winterreise, commissioned by BRYGGEN Bruges Strings and premiered in collaboration with tenor Ian Bostridge and Antwerp LiedFest at the LUNALIA festival in Mechelen, reimagines the iconic song cycle through the lens of a string ensemble.

While preserving the stark intimacy and psychological depth of the original piano setting, the arrangement offers a broader palette of colour and texture. Strings take on the role of narrator and atmosphere alike—evoking icy landscapes, inner turmoil, and fleeting moments of warmth with subtle shifts in timbre and articulation. The transparency of the writing allows Schubert's harmonic language to emerge with renewed clarity, while the ensemble's collective breath mirrors the ebb and flow of the voice.

This version maintains the cycle's emotional core but casts it in a new light—enhancing its resonance for contemporary audiences while honoring the spirit of Schubert's vision.

Sheet Music

Sheet music is available by request.