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
-
String Quartets - Schubert: Death and the Maiden & Janacek: Intimate Letters
Kammermusik - Erschienen bei K&K Verlagsanstalt am 02.05.2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert in Skálholt II
Klassik - Erschienen bei Musica Omnia am 09.03.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert - German Dances
Franz Schubert, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Paul Angerer [Conductor]
Klassik - Erschienen bei Savoy am 15.04.2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Unfinished Symphony
Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwängler
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei OBX Records am 09.02.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Autumnal Schubert
Klassik - Erschienen bei UME - Global Clearing House am 10.10.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clásicos Inolvidables Vol. 24, Joyas de la Música de Cámara
Klassik - Erschienen bei ADAGIO am 31.07.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Twistar Music am 11.11.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Classical Collection: Famous Chamber Music
Quintetto Caspar da Salo, Stuttgar Windquintet
Klassik - Erschienen bei JamadaClassics am 17.11.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Die schöne Müllerin
Franz Schubert, Martin Berner, Jürgen Plich
Klassik - Erschienen bei 5500338 Records DK am 25.08.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clásicos Inolvidables Vol. 21, Schubertiada
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei ADAGIO am 30.07.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in C Major
Classical Music Hub, Franz Schubert, Vibedx
Lounge - Erschienen bei Classical Music Hub, Franz Schubert, Vibedx am 26.03.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Flowers Of Gold: Romantic Music for Flute & Piano
Katrine Kielland-Brandt, Jørgen Ellegård Frederiksen
Kammermusik - Erschienen bei Paula am 15.05.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chaliapin: the Complete Recordings 1907-1936 Volume 11. British and American Recordings
Klassik - Erschienen bei Music Online am 17.09.2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert essentials
Klassik - Erschienen bei Armasi am 20.06.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Los Primeros Románticos
Klassik - Erschienen bei ClassicalPirosDigital am 08.11.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Four-Hand Piano Works Vol. 2
Claire Aebersold & Ralph Neiweem
Klassik - Erschienen bei Summit Records am 01.09.2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Murdering Yourself
Techno - Erschienen bei Statik Entertainment am 01.08.2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mikhail Voskresensky plays Brahms, Schubert, Liszt, Grieg.
Klassik - Erschienen bei Classical Records am 20.01.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Impromptus, Op. 90 & 142
Klassik - Erschienen bei Blaricum CD Company (B.C.D.) B.V. am 04.02.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Amazing Schubert
Klassik - Erschienen bei Paradise Classical am 03.10.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Mass in E-Flat Major, D. 950
American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein
Klassik - Erschienen bei American Symphony Orchestra am 13.11.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo