Roses wither, ships perish. Literally speaking, these are clichés that at best belong in an old-fashioned poesie album. For the unfortunate sailor, however, a sinking ship is also a bitter reality; the cliché does not alter that. What could be more banal than a sensitive miller's servant being cast aside by the miller's daughter for a tough hunter? Almost every line of the poet Wilhelm Müller
… contains at least one sweet cliché with an all too obvious meaning. Sometimes, however, Müller manages to play those clichés off against each other in such a way that deeper interpretations are possible. Perhaps the poet was not even always aware of this. Schubert, however, had the ability with his music to penetrate the porcelain surface. Not every singer has the talent to follow Schubert on that path. Experienced opera singers usually manage it quite well. Baritone Gerald Finley, for example, convincingly demonstrates that behind the Biedermeier kitsch lies tragedy. (HJ)more
