Holzmair’s Schubert story resonates with Koreans

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff reporter

Koreans have a super soft spot for heart wrenching love stories, and perhaps this is why Franz Schubert’s romanticism resonates so well here.

This year the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music is making a tribute to the Austrian composer, and Friday highlighted the Korea concert debut of Wolfgang Holzmair, one of the leading Schubert specialists of the day.

``Schubert is a very Austrian composer,’’ the Austrian baritone told The Korea Times in a café in downtown Seoul, Thursday.

``There is something in his music language that has a lot of `sehnsucht’ ― there is no exact English word for it but it means longing. His works are full of joy and longing, but on the other hand they are very melancholic and speak a lot about death, though not in a threatening but consoling way.

``This reflects Viennese thinking. In Vienna, death is always present. Schubert plays with major and minor tonalities in one song, which gives a certain atmosphere which is depressing,’’ he said.

Perhaps this is why Schubert’s ``Die Winterreise’’ (The Winter Journey) is popular here among lied or German art songs: The song cycle is on 24 poems by Wilhelm Muller, and its theme of lost love ― and the sehnsucht it inspires ― is bound to find a niche in Korea where ``han’’ or haunting, habitual grief is an intrinsic, deeply imbedded sentiment. Holzmair’s recital featuring the piece at the Sejong Chamber Hall was one of the most popular programs of the festival, which continues through May 18.

He learned the piece as a student at age 25 but waited a decade before he first performed it for an audience. Now, in his late 50s, the singer discovers new meaning every time he revisits it. Last year he gave 10 ``Winter Journey’’ recitals and recorded it for a second time.

``I feel mature and different. It always develops with you and with your own development. Now I don’t think the ending is so hopeless or depressing. Everything in life repeats itself,’’ he said. In the collection of poems, a heartbroken young man broods as he wanders around wintry scenery.

``Unlike `Die schone Mullerin’ (The Lovely Miller Maid), it (Winter Journey) has no narrative. There are 24 variations of depression and there is no real development or resolution. In the 20th century, many singers interpreted it from Freud’s psychoanalytical perspective,’’ he said.

``A song cycle is a very complicated way of doing a concert, because it’s difficult to keep the audience’s attention and to keep your own concentration. Doing a song cycle is not about singing beautifully or showy elements, because there’s no costume, orchestra or singing partner; there is an accompanist but you are the only entertainer,’’ said the singer, who is also known for playing a wide range of operatic roles.

But whether he delivers metaphors about heartbreak or recounts a romance with a miller’s daughter ― which he will on Sunday ― he always tries to tell a story.

``You’re only credible as a singer if you tell a story and reach out to the people,’’ he said. This is also a lesson he emphasizes to students at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.

Next year he will be teaching two Korean students. ``I’m surprised because Koreans have such a natural understanding (of German music), and they are so individual. I can recognize a Japanese or Russian singer right away just hearing their singing, but with my eyes covered I might think a Korean (singer is Italian).’’

Holzmair will sing ``The Lovely Miller Maiden’’ on Sunday at the Sejong Chamber Hall. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 40,000 won. Call (02) 720-3933.