According to the memoirs of Joseph von Spaun, a close confidant of Schubert's, the composer was in a melancholic mood at the beginning of 1827. He remarked at the time that those present would soon understand what he was missing. He was scheduled to perform a cycle of moving songs at Franz von Schober's home on March 4th. Schubert did not appear that evening, but the performance was rescheduled for later that spring or summer. During this performance, Schubert sang the complete Winterreise with great feeling, which surprised his friends given the somber atmosphere of the pieces. He was aware of the unique nature of his work and expressed his enthusiasm for the songs.
Only later did Schubert discover that Winterreise also included additional poems. Since the first twelve songs were already in print, he added the new pieces without altering the order of Müller's poems. This created a sequence that particularly emphasized the contrasts and thematic shifts. The compositions were characterized by a pessimistic tone and a dark atmosphere, which opened up new avenues of expression for Schubert. Winterreise has often been interpreted as an existential and somber work.
With his musical interpretation, Schubert opened up an artistic world of profound depth and expressiveness to his listeners. Winterreise reflected the protagonist's emotional state in vivid imagery and symbolic motifs. Changes in key and rhythm contributed to a multifaceted structure that illuminated the wanderer's emotional journey. The songs were considered outstanding both poetically and musically and were regarded by music lovers as significant masterpieces.