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Schubert, DIE WINTERREISE - John Arlievsky, baritone

  • March 15, 2026 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

  • Theatre House

    664 Castleton View Road
    Castleton, Virginia 22716
Ticket Price $15.00 Buy Tickets
Description

At the beginning of 1827, Franz Schubert is 30 years old. He has less than two years remaining of his life, which will end abruptly due to syphilis. It is then that he began to compose Die Winterreise, 24 songs to poems of Wilhelm Müller. 

Schubert found the first 12 of Müller's poems in Urania, an anthology of new German-language poetry. Reminisced as a “savant” by his friends, Schubert would regularly play for his closest circle of artists - these events were later coined as 'Schubertiades'. 

The following account in February 1827 of these premiere 12 songs of Winterreise come from Joseph von Spaun, a friend of the composer since childhood:

"… Schubert's mood became more gloomy, and he seemed upset. When I asked him what the matter was, he merely said, 'You will soon hear and understand. Come to Schober's [Franz von Schober, a charter member of the ‘Schubertiade’] and I will sing a cycle of bone-chilling songs. I am anxious for your opinion of them, for they have affected me more than any of my earlier songs.' So, in a voice wrought with emotion, he sang the whole of Winterreise [in fact, the first 12 songs] to us, accompanying himself on the piano. We were quite dumbfounded by the black mood of the songs, and Schober said he liked only one, 'Der Lindenbaum.' To which Schubert said, 'Wait. You will learn to appreciate them.' He was right. Soon we were enthusiastic over the profound effect of these melancholy songs.."

The poet, Müller, was an equally short lived contemporary of Schubert, who died at age 32. Although it is unclear if they ever met, it is known Müller died in September 1827 which is one month before Schubert completed the 24 song Die Winterreise. 

 

JOIN US for our own ‘Schubertiade’  of Schubert's DIE WINTERREISE in the intimate setting of the Theatre House!

 

After the musical performance, please join us in the Great Room for a 1827  Viennese themed dinner. 

*** Please note: The $15 ticket price covers both the performance and the dinner. 

Date & Time

Sun, Mar 15, 2026 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Venue Details

Theatre House

664 Castleton View Road
Castleton, Virginia 22716 Theatre House
Castleton Festival

Founded in 2009 by Maestro Lorin Maazel and Dietlinde Turban Maazel, the Castleton Festival introduced classical music, theatre, and opera to the rolling hills of Rappahannock County.

Castleton has been a life-changing experience for over 3,000 participants. Set in one of the most beautiful areas of Virginia, Castleton’s performances take place at the Theatre House: a former chicken coop for 15,000 hens converted to a “mini-Globe” European-style theatre with one of the finest acoustics in the world.  

There are four primary themes to Castleton’s present activities:

  • Castleton in Residency (CiR): one- to four-week Residencies for Artists of the highest caliber furthering their collaborative work and artistic growth. Artists are invited based on outstanding talent. In line with Maestro Maazel’s ethos, they are proactively encouraged to take risks and to challenge their artistic boundaries. The opportunity to fully immerse in the Maestro’s Legacy, his home, his music library, and his composing studio, together with performing in the Theatre House and experiencing the bucolic surroundings, imbues the artists with inspiration. Residencies to date have exceeded all expectations culminating in numerous recordings, some available via streaming on Castleton’s website.
  • Castleton in Mentorship (CiM): Artists in Residence are encouraged to make time available to teach Master Classes to high potential students from the local community. The Artists are also invited to bring their own students to participate in the unique experience. 
  • Castleton in Conversation (CiC): In collaboration with Daniel Lelchuk’s Talking Beats podcast, Castleton offers a new series which engages an extraordinary diversity of guests such as writers, musicians, scientists, entertainers, and thinkers in captivating and spirited dialogue. The common link between all is a passion for music.
  • Castleton in Performance (CiP), a year-round series, offers a multicultural experience. This thematically diverse series of recitals, chamber music, jazz, world music, theatre, chamber opera, and dance, brings internationally acclaimed artists into our own backyard. Eminent performers have included Mstislav Rostropovich, José Carreras, Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, Sir James Galway, Wynton Marsalis, Pepe Romero, Alec Baldwin, and Claire Bloom. 

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