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: Complete Works for Violin and Pianoforte
Klassiek - Released by Passacaille on 15 apr. 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert, Sibelius : Death & the Maiden, Intimate Voices
Kamermuziek - Released by Onyx Classics on 18 nov. 2016
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: The Complete Symphonic Works
Symfonische muziek - Released by Claves Records on 1 jan. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Octet - Mullova Ensemble
Klassiek - Released by Onyx Classics on 1 jan. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Kosegarten Song Cycle
Yves Saelens / Anne Cambier / Els Crommen / Jan Vermeulen
Klassiek - Released by Etcetera on 10 sep. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Complete piano trios
Kamermuziek - Released by Analekta on 1 jan. 2007
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Sessions: Lieder with Guitar
Philippe Sly, John Charles Britton
Vocale muziek (wereldlijk en religieus) - Released by Groupe Analekta, Inc on 14 okt. 2016
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 100, D. 929
Narziss und Goldmund Piano Trio
Klassiek - Released by PHAEDRA on 18 mei 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert
Lara St. John, Anna Prohaska, Marie-Pierre Langlamet
Klassiek - Released by Ancalagon LLC on 14 okt. 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: The Symphonies
Herbert Blomstedt, Dresden Staatskapelle
Symfonieën - Released by Berlin Classics on 1 jan. 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos. 19 & 21
Klassiek - Released by Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga Musica on 1 jan. 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Schwanengesang
Florian Boesch, Malcolm Martineau
Klassiek - Released by Onyx Classics on 3 nov. 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Reincarnation: Schubert - Messiaen
Kamermuziek - Released by Groupe Analekta, Inc on 6 nov. 2020
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Heartfelt - Romantic Works for Horn
Klassiek - Released by Challenge Classics on 9 dec. 2016
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Piano Trio D 929
Klassiek - Released by Challenge Classics on 1 jan. 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: The Small Song Cycles
Klassiek - Released by Passacaille on 21 mei 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
La jeune fille et la mort
Roberto Forés Veses, Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Franz Schubert
Klassiek - Released by XXI Music on 19 nov. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Mass No. 6 in E-Flat Major, D. 950
Choeur Pro Arte de Lausanne, Ernest Ansermet, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Armin Jordan
Klassiek - Released by Cascavelle on 1 jan. 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: Quintet for Strings in C Major, D. 956 Op. Postumo 163 (Live)
Kamermuziek - Released by RHI on 23 aug. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Rosamunde, D. 797
Klassiek - Released by Tuxedo Music on 23 mei 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Winterreise
Bernard Kruysen, Gérard van Blerk
Klassiek - Released by Intermusic S.A. on 19 nov. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo