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, Haydn & Debussy: Works for piano
Classica - Pubblicato da Claves Records il 5 mag 2017
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Schubert: Songs - Vol. 3
Musica vocale (sacra e profana) - Pubblicato da Wigmore Hall Live il 23 giu 2017
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Schubert: Der Einsame
Classica - Pubblicato da Champs Hill Records il 1 set 2017
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Franz Schubert - A Monument of Classics
Classica - Pubblicato da UME - Global Clearing House il 7 ott 2022
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Schubert: Trout Quintet
Peter Rösel & Karl Suske & Dietmar Hallmann & Jürnjakob Timm & Rainer Hucke
Classica - Pubblicato da Berlin Classics il 1 gen 1987
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Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos. 13 & 14
Classica - Pubblicato da Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga Musica il 1 gen 1979
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The Best of The Classics Volume 12
Philharmonic Wind Orchestra, Marc Reift
Classica - Pubblicato da Marcophon il 11 lug 2014
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Schubert: Symphony No. 2
Musica sinfonica - Pubblicato da New York Philharmonic il 25 ago 2017
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Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin - Wigmore Hall Live
Wolfgang Holzmair, Geoffrey Parsons
Musica vocale (sacra e profana) - Pubblicato da Wigmore Hall Live il 12 gen 2015
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Schubert: Classical Creations
Classica - Pubblicato da UME - Global Clearing House il 14 set 2022
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Schubert: Four Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899
Classica - Pubblicato da K&K Verlagsanstalt il 7 ott 2010
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Franz Schubert: Complete Works for Piano Trio
Classica - Pubblicato da Altara il 1 gen 2008
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Schubert: Mass No. 6, D. 950
Musica vocale sacra - Pubblicato da Berlin Classics il 29 gen 2010
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#Piano
Classica - Pubblicato da UME - Global Clearing House il 9 dic 2023
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Slenczynska Plays Schubert Live
Classica - Pubblicato da ACA Digital Recording, Inc. il 12 ago 2014
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A Piano Compendium: vol. 1
Classica - Pubblicato da UME - Global Clearing House il 31 ago 2023
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Ave Maria - Mystic Prayers
Classica - Pubblicato da Cobra Entertainment LLC il 14 apr 2017
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Schubert: Wiegenlied, Op. 98, No. 2, D.498 (Digitally Remastered)
Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Riga Radio Choir, Ilmar Lapinsch
Classica - Pubblicato da EMG Classical il 17 feb 2015
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Franz Schubert: Piano Sonato No. 13
Musica da camera - Pubblicato da K&K Verlagsanstalt il 25 ott 2010
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Schubert Four-Hand Piano Works Vol. 1
Claire Aebersold & Ralph Neiweem
Classica - Pubblicato da Summit Records il 1 ott 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Impromptus
Classica - Pubblicato da Claves Records il 1 gen 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo