Schubert’s Winterreise (Winter Journey) is a cornerstone of German Lied, comprising twenty-four pieces that delve into profound isolation and introspection. A touchstone for vocalists and pianists alike, it is widely considered a pinnacle challenge for Lied performers. Over the years, Winterreise has inspired numerous adaptations, reflecting its enduring significance and malleability.
Taiwanese Director Hung Hung has long admired Winterreise and, after years of preparation, presents a bold new production: Journey into the Apocalypse. This rendition features Taiwanese-language lyrics performed with a jazz quartet and incorporates dance to bring fresh musical tension and dramatic depth. The key challenge—entrusted to arranger Ming-Yen Hsieh—is to seamlessly blend the Taiwanese lyrics with jazz riffs, retaining the emotional resonance of the original work while infusing sensual novelty into a renowned classical piece.
In this lecture, Hsieh will discuss the creative process behind adapting Winterreise into a jazz-based, Taiwanese-language version. Guided by Chia-Heng Wu, a radio host and translator of Winterreise, the session will trace the evolution from the original German composition to its new jazz-inflected, Taiwanese interpretation.
■ Speaker | Chia-Heng Wu
A graduate of National Chengchi University’s Department of Public Administration and a music master’s degree holder from the University of Edinburgh, Wu has worked across media, publishing, performing arts, and translation. His translated works include Where the Heart Beats: John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists, Schubert’s Winter Journey: Anatomy of an Obsession, Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power, and Breaking Ground by Daniel Libeskind. Wu currently serves as the production director at Echo Digital. He curates intimate music performances at independent bookstores, oversees the Book Republic podcast channel, and hosts multiple radio programs including Music Da Vinci on Taichung Classical FM, The World of Lied and A Glance into Future Bookstores on National Education Radio, as well as Openbook: Audiobooks on the Go. His program Discovering Light Around the Corner—featuring visits to nearly 100 independent bookstores—was a finalist for the 54th Golden Bell Awards (Educational & Cultural Programming), while The World of Lied landed finalist in the 57th Golden Bell Awards (Art & Cultural Programming).
■ Speaker | Ming-Yen Hsieh (Arranger)
Hsieh holds a master’s degree in jazz saxophone performance and a postgraduate diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Since releasing his debut album, Firry Path, in 2014, he has continued exploring new artistic territories, moving seamlessly between different musical genres. Over the years, he has participated in more than ten jazz albums, earning two Golden Melody Awards and seven Golden Indie Music Awards. Hsieh was also crowned champion at the 2012 Taichung International Saxophone Competition. His collaborative projects span independent, experimental, film, and pop music, contributing to over a hundred songs—including The Legacy, the score for the cauldron-extinguishing ceremony of the 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade.
