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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Schubert: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, D.417 "The Tragic" (Digitally Remastered)
Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Dimitriyev
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on 17 Feb 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Mass No. 2 in G Major, D.167 (Digitally Remastered)
Lithuania State Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Vladimir Minin
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on 17 Feb 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Krips conducts Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Schumann
Symphonic Music - Released by Urania on 8 Feb 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: String Quintet In C Major, Op. Post. 163, D 956
Taneyev Quartet, Mstislav Rostropovich
Chamber Music - Released by RHI on 11 May 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Alexei Nasedkin Plays Piano Pieces by Schubert
Classical - Released by Classical Records on 12 Nov 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Realms of Ensemble Music vol. 2 - F. Schubert: 1820 "Die Forelle"
Genzo Takehisa, Takeshi Kiriyama
Chamber Music - Released by ALM Records on 7 Sep 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Schubert: Works For Piano And Violin
Classical - Released by Arabesque Recordings on 11 Aug 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brendel plays Schubert
Alfred Brendel, Franz Schubert
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 15 Feb 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Audiophysics - 25 Years
Classical - Released by Turtle Records on 1 May 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classical Dreaming - Cello & Piano
Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 18 Mar 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Winterreise
Christoph Prégardien, Michael Gees
Classical - Released by Challenge Classics on 19 Nov 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Pièces pour piano à 4 mains (Volume III)
Classical - Released by Claves Records on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: String Quartets in Orchestral Versions
Classical - Released by Claves Records on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Kempff plays Schubert
Franz Schubert, Wilhelm Kempff
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 21 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Late Piano Music Vol. 1
Classical - Released by Legend Classics on 1 Feb 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Schubert's Company
Classical - Released by PM Classics Ltd. on 23 Jun 2017
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert 2 - Wigmore Hall Live
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Wigmore Hall Live on 23 Jun 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: String Quintet, D.956; Quartettsatz, D.703
Cypress String Quartet, Gary Hoffman
Chamber Music - Released by Avie Records on 5 May 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Piano Duets
Classical - Released by Passacaille on 1 Mar 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo