Schubert: Schwanengesang "Aufenthalt" (Benjamin Zander - Interpretation Class)

For more classes like this one, please visit the Benjamin Zander Center - www.benjaminzander.org/
Christian Schwebler, baritone & Dina Vainshtein, piano
Interpretations of Music: Lessons for Life
with Benjamin Zander
Dave Jamrog Audio Video

[@raymondhummel5211]

Wonderful singing in German and projecting the story with his lyrics and emotions in his voice. I need to return to your video as I it has many useful ideas presented in it. Your videos have just got to open the eyes of many people across the world to the inner workings of music and in this case vocal techniques, and other ways to present the material. Your job is so important not only from music aspect but because it teaching people to open their hearts to what's around them, which I believe enriches their life style.

[@STEPHANM0ELLER]

Mr. Zander, you are a blessing of mankind! If anyone could still save the world, it would be you and your idea of the universal power of music! The world needs to listen to this!

[@Robinicat]

I am not a musician but raised musical children. I cannot get enough of Benjamin Zander's master classes! He is a rare and brilliant communicator. I'm sure his interpretation classes have influenced and inspired many musicians and music lovers, young and old. Thank you Mr. Zander.

[@tsecphk]

He is good indeed. Don't forget he is a male nurse (i.e. Non-professional musician) with this level reached is already super outstanding even better after advice received.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

I know this song very well, I studied it myself when I was in my teens and I still can sing it by heart. If you ask me, his biggest problem is his pronounciation. Not in the sense that it doesn't sound right to a german's ear (which it doesn't) it is hindering his singing. If you open up the vowels correctly during this song, like a german native does, the sound of the singing gets more resonant. I'm also not a professional singer, I just had to study singing for my degree, so that might give you some idea where I am coming from here.

[@fastfood4560]

Quotenwagnerianer His "Fels" sounds funny though... but honestly I didn't expect his pronunciation so good - I mean, I understand every word, so I guess there is no reason to complain. You are right about opening the vocals though!

[@fattyboyblue]

@@Quotenwagnerianer I’ve heard professional musicians with much worse diction. I think this song is just a bit too low for this guy.

[@clausclausmann7542]

Aufenthalt Rauschender Strom, Brausender Wald, Starrender Fels Mein Aufenthalt. Wie sich Welle An Welle reiht, Fließen die Tränen Mir ewig erneut. Hoch in den Kronen Wogend sich's regt, So unaufhörlich Mein Herze schlägt. Und wie des Felsen Uraltes Erz, Ewig derselbe Bleibet mein Schmerz. Ludwig Rellstab (1799 - 1860), deutscher Journalist und Dichter

[@BaguioCityMe]

here I find myself weeping from the raw emotion portrayed in his delivery.

[@321Lopper]

I am impressed. He is is no Fischer-Dieskau but this is super impressive for a non-professional

[@davidfoust9767]

Much improved in interpretation from the teacher's comments. He seems to be very young so hopefully he will continue on working and by the time he is 40 he will have a great voice.

[@renedupont6116]

As far as I know, there is no Schubert autograph of these Lieder. We can assume that the notes are from him, but the dynamics were put in by some 19th century philistine and this Lied is a good example of that fact. Schubert being a pianist could very well have sung these Lieder and accompanied himself. Actually, dynamics are no even needed. It's sufficient to look closely at the notes and the text, from a singer's perspective. Which does not exclude different interpretations but it opens the ear for possibilities not thought of yet.

[@mysticmouse7261]

Impressive bass colour.

[@helenpanshin5589]

*Lyrics and Translation* _Aufenthalt_ Ludwig Rellstab Rauschender Strom, brausender Wald, Starrender Fels mein Aufenthalt. Wie sich die Welle an Welle reiht, Fliessen die Tränen mir ewig erneut. Hoch in den Kronen wogend sich’s regt, So unaufhörlich mein Herze schlägt. Und wie des Felsen uraltes Erz Ewig deselbe bleibet mein Schmerz. _Resting place_ Surging river, roaring forest, immovable rock, my resting place. As wave follows wave, so my tears flow, ever renewed. As the high treetops stir and heave, so my heart beats incessantly. Like the rock’s age-old ore my sorrow remains forever the same.

[@Pitborn]

...fließen die Tränen mir ewig erneut... ayvish ayvish annoyed...

[@liedersanger1]

Wow, great raw material... a little more polish with the German, and a little more dynamic contrast... and man....!

[@marciolimas]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@twitchingmind]

The guy with red sweater seated in front was having none of this. ..

[@cl2nden1st89]

Earldean Reyes LOL

[@squirrel4727]

Why?

[@frankteunissen6118]

No, he wasn’t. Why? You’d have to ask him.

[@synhegola]

Very nice. But as a german i recommend some more practice on the "ch". it's not just "sh" ^_^

[@frankteunissen6118]

And the “r”s. You can hear so clearly that he is a native English speaker.

[@paolocruz8392]

He looks like Harrison Ford.

[@bodiloto]

questo ragazzo e' un dilettante vero . vocalità degna della scuola media e ancora... no comment .

[@renatekl]

Gute Stimme - gute Performance- - aber bitte - ein bisserl mehr am akzentfreien Deutsch arbeiten.

[@neinweil1914]

Warum muss er die ganze Zeit so nervig distanzlos unterwegs sein. Das ist doch eher unhöflich

[@neinweil1914]

mar meya Na gut wenn das so ist

[@vishalmohan754]

his facial expression is too funny

[@mahmoudmohie1624]

VISHAL MOHAN no it's not, he is just in the mood of being possessed by the emotion of poem combined with the music

[@gerlindemayer9645]

Nicht schlecht, aber Lieder sollte man erst dann singen, wenn man einigermaßen gut artikuliert. Das hängt sehr mit der Zunge zusammen und einem lockeren aufgehängten Klang in der Stirn bzw unter dem Schädeldach, bzw gleich bedeutend mit der richtigen Atmung. Wen interessiert der Typ im Hintergrund, der da wild herum gestikuliert? 😆

[@danielbarratt405]

puts on some dodgy accent when he sings german, far too slow

[@monumentofwonders]

It's interesting to me that you can watch such an inspirational performance, which is not about anyone's idea of musical perfection, and only comment that the accent of a non-German speaker is dodgy, and the tempo seems to you too slow. I wouldn't want anyone to miss this video, because they believed that your comment somehow was apropos of what is happening here in terms of a magnification of the human spirit.

[@sudhirchopde3334]

I don't get the 'youre from India ',joke.wont that guy think a hundred times before coming g again,not overlooking this foreign music and song. No offense, but the small mindedness shines through!

[@hughmac13]

Wasn't really a joke. He was saying "You've come all the way from India, so you might as well sit in the front row here and get the best view."

[@qlethora4101]

Keep practicing. Lots of undeveloped promise. Unlistenable. Need lessons and support.

[@anne-mariemuller6275]

Marina Coffee Do you sing too?