Introduction

Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759, "Unfinished": I. Allegro moderato (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Michael Halász

The opening of Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor…

Wiegenlied (Cradle Song), Op. 98, No. 2, D. 498 (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Performer: Lynda Russell, Peter Hill

An extract from Schubert's Wiegenlied or 'Cradle Song', thought to have been written in November 1816, the composer then 19 years of age.

Iphigenia auf Tauris, Act II Scene 1: Aria: Götter, die ihr mich hasst (excerpt)

Composer: Christoph Willibald Gluck

Ensemble: WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln

Performer: Hermann Prey

Conductor: Joseph Keilberth

Schubert's earliest works date from his years at the Stadtkonvikt…

Symphony No. 1 in D Major, D. 82: I. Adagio - Allegro vivace (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

Conductor: Michael Halász

The very same month as the symphony's school premiere, Schubert was offered a scholarship to continue his studies at the Stadtkonvikt…

Des Teufels Lustschloss (The Devil's Pleasure Castle), D. 84: Overture (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Prague Sinfonia

Conductor: Christian Benda

Yet another 'first' emerged a couple of months later in July: the completion of Schubert's first Mass, in F.

Mass No. 1 in F Major, D. 105: Gloria: Gratias agimus tibi (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Leipziger Kammerorchester

Performer: Trine Wilsberg Lund, Min Woo Lim, Assaf Levitin

Conductor: Morten Schuldt-Jensen

While there is little corroborative evidence of a serious relationship between Schubert and Fräulein Grob…

Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel), Op. 2, D. 118: Bars 1-31

Composer: Franz Schubert

Performer: Lynda Russell, Peter Hill

Schubert's musical mastery lies in his ability to evoke the intense psychological drama of the text, along with the practical realities of the scene.

Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel), Op. 2, D. 118: Bars 69-120

Composer: Franz Schubert

Performer: Lynda Russell, Peter Hill

In 1821, seven years after its completion, Gretchen am Spinnrade appeared in print as Schubert's opus 2: that is, his second published score.

Erlkönig, Op. 1, D. 328 (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Performer: Johannes Kalpers, Burkhard Kehring

It is perhaps unsurprising that as Schubert fine-tuned his skills in musical dramaticism, transforming the German Lied from its lowly roots into a genre of unprecedented expressivity…

Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, D. 485: I. Allegro (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Michael Halász

At the time of Hatwig's house concert and the private premiere of Schubert's Symphony No. 5, the composer was no longer living and working with his father…

3 Marches militaires, Op. 51, D. 733: No. 1 in D Major (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Performer: Jenő Jandó, Zsuzsa Kollár

As was so often the case with Schubert, with highs came lows, conflicting emotions that reveal something of the tempestuous nature of his personality.

Piano Quintet In A Major, Op. 114, D. 667, "Die Forelle" (The Trout): IV. Thema with Variations: Andantino (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Kodály Quartet

Performer: István Tóth, Jenő Jandó

If the holiday – and, indeed, the 'Trout' Quintet – had engendered a relaxed, easy-going mindset and overall leisurely outlook, then the return to the city once again brought disappointment…

Alfonso und Estrella, D. 732, Act I: Schon, wenn es beginnt zu tagen (Every morning, when the sun rises) (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Cagliari Theatre Orchestra

Performer: Rainer Trost

Conductor: Gérard Korsten

If, with Alfonso und Estrella, Schubert's operatic efforts had fallen flat, he was at least enjoying sustained success with his Lieder.

Fantasy in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760, "Wandererfantasie" (Wanderer Fantasy): Adagio (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Performer: Eldar Nebolsin

1822 was also the year in which Schubert is thought to have contracted the venereal disease that would terminate his life only a few years later.

Fierabras, D. 796: Overture (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Prague Sinfonia

Conductor: Christian Benda

Despite his illness and realisation of his imminent death, Schubert continued to compose a series of mature masterworks…

Die schöne Müllerin (The Fair Maid of the Mill), Op. 25, D. 795: No. 15. Eifersucht und Stolz (Jealousy and Pride)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Performer: Christian Elsner, Ulrich Eisenlohr

For Schubert, life was to imitate art, the composer becoming as depressed and desperate as the young man whose idealistic love he depicted so vividly in the much-celebrated song cycle.

Winterreise (Winter Journey), Op. 89, D. 911: No. 1. Gute Nacht (Good Night) (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Performer: Roman Trekel, Ulrich Eisenlohr

But not all of Schubert's music of this final period could be described as mournful and gloomy.

String Quintet in C Major, Op. 163, D. 956: II. Adagio (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Villa Musica Ensemble

The String Quintet in C makes for a fitting finale to this musical biography.

String Quintet in C Major, Op. 163, D. 956: IV. Allegretto (excerpt)

Composer: Franz Schubert

Ensemble: Villa Musica Ensemble