大象传媒

A change of fortune is on the horizon as Schubert works towards one of his most celebrated works.

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.

At the beginning of 1818 Schubert was forced to return to teaching so he could support himself financially. He took a job teaching music to the daughters of Count Esterhazy of Galanta, which meant moving to the Count鈥檚 country estate in the small town of Zseliz. Between lessons, Schubert was able to spend plenty of time composing and produced his German Requiem. However, he soon began to feel rather isolated and returned to Vienna after only four months. It was during this year that Schubert finally had his first music published and also his first premiere outside of a church. Things seemed be taking an upward turn for Schubert and the following year he travelled with his friend Vogl to enjoy the summer countryside in Upper Austria. The mountains, rivers, lakes and streams of his homeland inspired one of Schubert鈥檚 best-loved chamber works, his Trout Quintet.

March in E major, D606
Alberto Miodini, piano

Overture in D major, D556
L鈥橭rfeo Baroque Orchestra
Michi Gaigg, conductor

Salve Regina in A major, D676
Helen Donath, soprano
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor

Erlafsee, D586
Elly Ameling, soprano
Irwin Gage, piano

Atys, D585
Elly Ameling, soprano
Irwin Gage, piano

Piano Quintet in A major, 鈥淒ie Forelle鈥� D667 (Scherzo, Thema, Finale)
Andreas Haefliger, piano
Members of the Tak谩cs Quartet
Joseph Carver, double bass

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 大象传媒 Wales