Die Winterreise

“I arrived as a stranger, I depart as a stranger.” – These famous opening words of Winterreise not only define the most well-known song cycle in music history but also capture the essence of Romanticism: wandering, loneliness, love, restlessness, even the German forest. These themes resonated in a country searching for identity—and today, they feel more relevant than ever. Certainties are crumbling, and the feeling of estrangement has returned, both socially and personally. Matthias Piro explores this in a Winterreise adaptation for choir, baritone, and two accordions, opening up new scenic possibilities. Having worked with Tobias Kratzer and Lydia Steier at major theaters, he now makes his professional debut at Volkstheater Rostock with this moving production.