Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was among the first of the Romantics, and the composer who, more than any other, brought the art song (lied) to artistic maturity. During his short but prolific career, he produced masterpieces in nearly every genre, all characterized by rich harmonies, an expansive treatment of classical forms, and a seemingly endless gift for melody.
Schubert began his earliest musical training studying with his father and brothers. Having passed an audition, Schubert enrolled at the Stadtkonvikt that trained young vocalists to eventually sing at the chapel of The Imperial Court. Schubert began to explore composition and wrote a song that came to the attention of the institution's director, Antonio Salieri, who along with the school's professor of harmony, hailed young Schubert as a genius. In 1813, after Schubert's voice broke, he returned to live with his father, who directed him to follow in his footsteps and become a schoolteacher. Schubert begrudgingly complied and worked miserably in that capacity by day, while composing prolifically by night. He had written more than 100 songs as well as numerous symphonic, operatic, and chamber music scores, before he reached the age of 20.
Schubert finally left his teaching position to dedicate himself completely to musical pursuits. During the summer of 1818, the young composer worked as a private music teacher to the aristocratic Esterházy family. When he left that post in the fall, Schubert lived a somewhat bohemian lifestyle, composing and spending time with a group of friends that acted as his personal support system. In 1820, Schubert was commissioned by two opera houses, the Karthnerthor Theatre and Theatre-an-der-Wein, to compose a pair of operas. He wrote Die Zwillingsbrüder, and Zauberharfe, both of which were unenthusiastically received. Schubert failed to secure a contract with a publisher, as none were willing to take a chance on a relatively unknown composer who wrote harmonically untraditional music. Schubert, along with the support of his artistic friends, published his own work for a collection of roughly 100 subscribers. These efforts, however, were financially unrewarding, and Schubert struggled to sustain himself. His work garnered little attention and contemporary composers dismissed his music as presumptuous and immature.
In 1823, Schubert was elected to the Musikverein of Graz, as an honorary member. Though this brought no financial reward and was an inconsequential appointment, Schubert relished its slight recognition, and to show his gratitude, composed his famous Unfinished Symphony. Five years later, Schubert's music was featured at a concert at Vienna's Musikverein. His work was received quite enthusiastically, and to much critical acclaim. This marked the only time during the composer's life that he enjoyed such success. This seemed to provide Schubert with a renewed sense of optimism, and despite illness, the composer continued to produce at an incredible rate. He began to organize a scheme to increase his artistic popularity, by continuing to evaluate his work and progress as a musician, perhaps even planning to study harmony privately. Schubert's health did not improve, and he soon found himself at death's door. During the composer's last moments, he instructed his brother Ferdinand to ensure that he would be buried alongside Ludwig van Beethoven's grave. Schubert revered the legendary composer, and was grateful to him, as Beethoven had praised his work after hearing a selection of songs. Schubert also highly regarded the work of both Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Franz Schubert died of syphilis.
Despite his short life, Schubert produced a wealth of symphonies, operas, masses, chamber music pieces, and piano sonatas, most of which are considered standard repertoire. He is known primarily for composing hundreds of songs including Gretchen am Spinnrade, and Erlkonig. He pioneered the song cycle with such works as Die Schöne Müllerin, and Winterreise, and greatly affected the vocal writing of both Robert Schumann and Gustav Mahler.
© David Brensilver /TiVo
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Homage to Schubert: György Kurtág • Jörg Widmann • Franz Schubert
Klassik - Erschienen bei AVIE Records am 11.11.2013
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: Winterreise
Ernst Haefliger, Jörg Ewald Dähler
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Claves Records am 01.01.1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peaceful Beethoven & Schubert
Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert
Klassik - Erschienen bei UME - Global Clearing House am 22.11.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Winterreise
Klassik - Erschienen bei Fineline Classical am 17.09.2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Classical Evening
Klassik - Erschienen bei UME - Global Clearing House am 29.12.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: Works for Piano 4 Hands Vol. I
Klassik - Erschienen bei Claves Records am 01.01.1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas Greatest Songs, Vol. 2
Weihnachtsmusik - Erschienen bei Groupe Analekta, Inc am 11.12.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Florian Boesch & Malcolm Martineau: Schubert Lieder Recital
Florian Boesch, Malcolm Martineau
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Onyx Classics am 10.06.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Karajan conducts Schubert and Schumann
Herbert von Karajan, Robert Schumann, Franz Schubert
Klassik - Erschienen bei UME - Global Clearing House am 12.06.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shwarzkopf Sings Schubert Lieder
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Regis Records am 16.07.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Radu Lupu: The Virtuosic Piano
Radu Lupu, Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven
Klassik - Erschienen bei UME - Global Clearing House am 13.10.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos. 13, 14 & Moments musicaux
Klassik - Erschienen bei Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga Musica am 01.01.2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Robert Schumann: Violin Concerto in D Minor - Franz Schubert: Concerto, Polonaise, Rondo
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Emmanuel Krivine, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann
Klassik - Erschienen bei Denon am 01.01.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Military March in D Major, Op. 51, No. 1, D.733 (Digitally Remastered)
Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Ilmar Lapinsch
Klassik - Erschienen bei EMG Classical am 17.02.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Classical Winter
Klassik - Erschienen bei UME - Global Clearing House am 04.12.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Classical Music
Klassik - Erschienen bei Armasi am 24.12.2018
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Schubert: Winterreise, D. 911
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Claves Records am 16.10.2015
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Wandererfantasie D. 760 - Dvořák: Piano Concerto Op. 33
Klassik - Erschienen bei Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga Musica am 01.01.1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Winterreise - Wigmore Hall Live
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Wigmore Hall Live am 08.04.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert - Winterreise
Klassik - Erschienen bei Onyx Classics am 01.06.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Colours of Classical - Great Composers
Klassik - Erschienen bei UME - Global Clearing House am 30.01.2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo