SUMMER WITH SCHUBERT at Baxter Theatre Centre

When Franz Schubert (1797–1828) died at the age of 31 he had reached only the early summer of his life, yet his compositions reflect all the seasons of human experience. This course will begin by describing his modest family background, his early life in Vienna and his youthful admiration for Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. It will then move on to the works that first drew attention to his genius. Schubert's many compositions reach to the depths of human emotion and range over almost all musical forms: instrumental music, particularly for the piano, chamber music, including a number of string quartets and the well-known Octet in C major, as well as the Trout Quintet, songs and symphonies. The renowned song cycles Der Winterreise and Die Schöne Müllerin contain some of the greatest of German lieder. Yet Schubert's achievements did not receive major recognition in his lifetime and, despite support from family and friends, he was comopelled to face the harshness of poverty and an early breakdown in health.