Monday, January 31, 2011

Happy Birthday: Franz Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert was born in Himmelpfortgrund (suburb of Vienna), Austria, on January 31, 1797. His opera compositions include Adrast, Alfonso und Estrella, Die Bürgschaft, Fierrabras, Das Dreimäderlhaus, Die Freunde von Salamaka, Der Graf von Gleichen, Der Minnesänger, Rüdiger, Sacontala, Sophie, Des Teufels Lustschloß, Die Verschworenen (aka Der häusliche Krieg), Die Zauberharfe and Die Zwillingsbrüder. Composing over six hundred lieder in his 31 years on earth, this is where Schubert really left his mark on music. Steering away from the strophic style of song writing, the Austrian composer began to compose works that took on a more narrative tone in the form of mini-melodramas. Two examples are his "Gretchen am Spinnrade" and "Der Erlkönig." His song cycles Die schöne Müllerin, Winterreise and Schwanengesang also took on an almost operatic drama. In the grand Viennese tradition, enjoy the Schubertiade after the jump!





"Licht und liebe" sung by Janet Baker & Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

"Ungeduld" sung Michael Schade

"Stänchen" sung by Hei-Kyung Hong

"Erlkönig" sung by Jessye Norman

"Du bist der ruh" sung by Anna Moffo

"Gretchen am Spinnrade" sung Renée Fleming

"Suleika I" sung by Kathleen Battle

"Nacht und Träume" sung by David Daniels

"Der Hirt auf dem Felsen" sung by Anneliese Rothenberger

"Sehnsucht" sung by Arleen Auger

"Auf dem wasser zu singen" sung by Christa Ludwig

"Seligkeit" sung by Marjana Lipovšek

"Wiegenlied" sung by Gundula Janowitz

"Heimliches Lieben" sung by Elly Ameling

"An Sylvia" sung by Fritz Wunderlich

"Lachen und weinen" sung by Rita Streich

"Der Tod und das Mädchen" sung by Régine Crespin

"Ganymed" sung by Lucia Popp

"Der Doppelgänger" sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

"Die Forelle" sung by Felicia Weathers

"Klage der Ceres" sung by Cheryl Studer
Part 1:
Part 2:

"Im Abendrot" sung by Margaret Price

"Gute Nacht" sung by Brigitte Fassbaender

"Die Krähe" sung by Thomas Hampson

"An die Musik" sung by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf