Song and Self: A Singer's Reflections on Music and Performance

Song and Self: A Singer's Reflections on Music and Performance by Ian Bostridge. When performing, international singer Ian Bostridge is accustomed to being centre stage. However, the enforced silence of 2020 and 2021 forced him to re-examine his identity as a performer. This period of reflection allowed Bostridge to delve into the backstories of the works he has performed, including Claudio Monteverdi's Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda and Robert Schumann's Frauenliebe und Leben. Bostridge explores these iconic works in his Berlin Family Lectures, which were delivered at the University of Chicago in the Spring of 2020. He guides us on a journey beneath the surface of these famous pieces, examining what it means for audiences when a singer inhabits these roles and how a performer's own identity affects the identities inherent in the works themselves. Through his exploration of Ravel's Chansons madécasses and Benjamin Britten's confrontations with death, Bostridge sheds light on the complexities of music and performance. His insights offer a unique perspective on the world of classical music, inviting readers to consider the intricate relationships between performer, audience, and work.