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Schubert in love

Donald Macleod explores Schubert鈥檚 life around the time of his Eleventh String Quartet and the struggles he endured establishing a livelihood and and a relationship.

Donald Macleod explores Schubert鈥檚 life around the time of his Eleventh String Quartet.

Franz Schubert鈥檚 short life spanned a crucial period in music history as the elegant, classical stylings of Mozart and Haydn were giving way to the drama and passion of the romantic era. Schubert came to embody that transformation, in music that was all about personal expression and individual inspiration. This week, Donald Macleod throws the spotlight on Schubert鈥檚 chamber music and explores the stories around five key works for small ensembles.

By 1816, the young composer was teaching at his father鈥檚 school in Vienna. Schubert hated what he regarded as the drudgery of teaching, and longed to pursue a career in music. He turned his energies to composing another string quartet 鈥 this would be his eleventh. Schubert was also now studying with the celebrated theatre composer, Antonio Salieri, and they collaborated on an opera together. Outside of music there were other distractions; Therese Grob was the daughter of a neighbour and a fine singer. Schubert quickly fell in love but, without better career prospects, there was little chance of his making their relationship a lasting one.

Klage, D436
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
Gerald Moore, piano

Andenken, D423
Camerata Musica Limburg
Jan Schumacher, conductor

Widerhall, D428
Camerata Musica Limburg
Jan Schumacher, conductor

Die B眉rgschaft, D435 (excerpt)
Oliver Widmer, baritone
Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra
Jan Schultsz, conductor

Symphony No 5 in B flat, D485 (Andante con moto & Menuetto)
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor

String Quartet No 11 in E, D353
Melos Quartet

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 麻豆约拍 Wales

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Klage, D 436

    Performer: Gerald Moore. Singer: Dietrich Fischer鈥怐ieskau.
    • DG : 437-215-2.
    • DG.
    • 6.
  • Franz Schubert

    Andenken, D 423

    Choir: Camerata Musica Limburg. Conductor: Jan Schumacher.
    • GENUIN : GEN-17474.
    • GENUIN.
    • 15.
  • Franz Schubert

    Widerhall, D 428

    Performer: Camerata Musica Limburg. Conductor: Jan Schumacher.
    • DG : 437-215-2.
    • DG.
    • 16.
  • Franz Schubert

    Die Burgschaft, D 435 (excerpt)

    Singer: Oliver Widmer. Orchestra: Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jan Schultsz.
    • Hyperion: CDA67229.
    • Hyperion.
    • 11.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No 5 in B flat major, D 485

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • VIRGIN : VC-7 91515-2.
    • VIRGIN.
    • 2.
  • Franz Schubert

    String Quartet in E major, D 353

    Ensemble: Melos Quartett.
    • DG : 419-879 2.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Tue 2 Feb 2021 12:00

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