Franz Peter Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre, including more than 600 secular vocal works (mainly lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music, and a large body of piano and chamber music. His major works include “Erlkönig” (D. 328), the Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 (Trout Quintet), the Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 (Unfinished Symphony), the “Great” Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944, the String Quintet (D. 956), the three last piano sonatas (D. 958–960), the opera Fierrabras (D. 796), the incidental music to the play Rosamunde (D. 797), and the song cycles Die schöne Müllerin (D. 795) and Winterreise (D. 911).
People
Richard Wigmore
Richard studied languages at Cambridge and music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. A former professional singer, he now works as a freelance writer, broadcaster and lecturer. While his tastes are eclectic, he specialises in the Viennese Classics, Lieder and opera. Richard writes for Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine and other journals, and has given classes in the history and interpretation of Lieder at Birkbeck College, the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall. He appears frequently on Radio 3’s CD Review, is in demand for pre-concert talks at the South Bank, Wigmore Hall, King’s Place etc. and is a regular lecturer on Martin Randall cultural tours.
Richard’s publications include Schubert: the complete song texts and the widely acclaimed Faber Pocket Guide to Haydn
Wilhelm Müller
Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller (7 October 1794 – 30 September 1827) was a German lyric poet, best known as the author of Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, the famous Franz Schubert song cycles.