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: Trout Quintet
Peter Rösel & Karl Suske & Dietmar Hallmann & Jürnjakob Timm & Rainer Hucke
Classical - Released by Berlin Classics on Jan 1, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos. 13 & 14
Classical - Released by Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga Musica on Jan 1, 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of The Classics Volume 12
Philharmonic Wind Orchestra, Marc Reift
Classical - Released by Marcophon on Jul 11, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Symphony No. 2
Symphonic Music - Released by New York Philharmonic on Aug 25, 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Classical Creations
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Sep 14, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Four Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899
Classical - Released by K&K Verlagsanstalt on Oct 7, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: Complete Works for Piano Trio
Classical - Released by Altara on Jan 1, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Mass No. 6, D. 950
Sacred Vocal Music - Released by Berlin Classics on Jan 29, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
#Piano
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Dec 9, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Slenczynska Plays Schubert Live
Classical - Released by ACA Digital Recording, Inc. on Aug 12, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Piano Compendium: vol. 1
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Aug 31, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ave Maria - Mystic Prayers
Classical - Released by Cobra Entertainment LLC on Apr 14, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Wiegenlied, Op. 98, No. 2, D.498 (Digitally Remastered)
Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Riga Radio Choir, Ilmar Lapinsch
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on Feb 17, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: Piano Sonato No. 13
Chamber Music - Released by K&K Verlagsanstalt on Oct 25, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Four-Hand Piano Works Vol. 1
Claire Aebersold & Ralph Neiweem
Classical - Released by Summit Records on Oct 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Impromptus
Classical - Released by Claves Records on Jan 1, 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert - A Night of Classics
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Oct 15, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Emil Gilels plays Schubert, Chopin & Prokofiev
Classical - Released by Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga Musica on Jan 1, 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Concert of Pianists
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Nov 24, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: The Late Piano Sonatas
Franz Schubert, Valery Afanassiev
Classical - Released by Denon on Jan 1, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: String Quartets
Chamber Music - Released by Heritage Records on Jun 26, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo