Schubert – Famous Works

Vienna theatre associated with Franz Schubert and his unrealized operatic ambitions

The famous Viennese theatre where Schubert dreamed of staging his works—dreams largely unfulfilled during his lifetime.

The creative legacy of Franz Schubert is vast and astonishing, especially considering the brevity of his life. His output spans symphonic music, piano works, chamber music, and an unparalleled contribution to the art song. Much of this music remained underappreciated during his lifetime, yet today it stands at the core of the Romantic repertoire.

Schubert’s music reveals a unique synthesis of lyricism, structural clarity, and emotional depth. Though recognition came largely after his death, his works have since secured an enduring place in the musical consciousness of humanity.

Below is a representative selection of Schubert’s most significant and enduring works.

Symphonies

Symphony No. 4 in C minor, “Tragic”, D. 417
Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, D. 485
Symphony No. 6 in C major, D. 589
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, “Unfinished”, D. 759
Symphony No. 9 in C major, “Great”, D. 944

Piano Music:

36 Waltzes, D. 365
21 Piano Sonatas, including:

- Sonata No. 6 in E-flat major, D. 568

- Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D. 960

Fantasia in C major, “Wanderer”, D. 760
Moments Musicaux, Nos. 1–6, D. 780
Grand Duo in C major for piano four hands, D. 813

Chamber Music:

15 String Quartets, including No. 14 in D minor, “Death and the Maiden”, D. 810
Octet in F major, D. 803
String Quintet in C major, D. 956
Piano Quintet in A major, “The Trout”, D. 667
Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat major, D. 898
Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat major, D. 929
11 Impromptus, D. 899, D. 935, D. 946

Song Cycles:

Die schöne Müllerin, D. 795
Winterreise, D. 911
Approximately 600 Lieder

Vocal & Sacred Music:

7 Masses
German Mass, D. 872
Oratorio “Lazarus”, D. 689

Comments

Robert Schumann - Träumerei (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15 No. 7)

The Woodman’s Child by Arthur Hughes reflects the dreamy and introspective atmosphere of Schumann’s Träumerei from Scenes from Childhood . For Robert Schumann , music was almost always a deeply personal expression of introspection, emotion, and poetic reflection—qualities that firmly establish him as one of the most significant composers of the Romantic era. The piano was Schumann’s first great love, and his works for the instrument have proved remarkably enduring over time. Schumann composed Kinderszenen ( Scenes from Childhood ), his best-known piano cycle, in 1838. It consists of thirteen “peculiarly small pieces,” as the composer himself described them, each bearing a title that evokes a distinct childhood impression or memory. Although all thirteen pieces share a sense of intimacy and charm, “Träumerei” ( Dreaming ) stands out as the most beloved and universally recognized. The piece is frequently included in solo piano anthologies and is often chosen by virtuoso perform...

Johann Strauss II - Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op. 214 in A major

The Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka , Op. 214, was composed in 1858 by Johann Strauss II following a highly successful concert tour in Russia. During the summer season, Strauss performed regularly at Pavlovsk, near Saint Petersburg, a fashionable venue for open-air concerts that played a crucial role in shaping his international reputation. Shortly after his return, the polka was premiered in Vienna on 24 November 1858. The title itself reveals Strauss’s playful wit. In German, “Tratsch” refers to gossip or idle chatter, while “Tritsch” carries no literal meaning. Together, the words form an onomatopoeic pun, imitating the sound of lively conversation—much like the English expression “chit-chat.” Such wordplay was characteristic of Strauss, who delighted in pairing light-hearted music with humorous or evocative titles. True to its name, the Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka bursts with energy and rhythmic vitality. Strauss once remarked that dancers might happily pause their movements, engaging in anima...

Giuseppe Verdi - Messa da Requiem

Although Requiem was a religious work, it was presented more in concert halls than in churches . Giuseppe Verdi composed his celebrated Messa da Requiem in honor of his close friend Alessandro Manzoni, the eminent Italian poet, writer, and humanist, who passed away in 1873. The Requiem is a powerful fusion of intense drama and profound passion, interspersed with moments of serene reverence. Verdi conducted the first performance at St. Mark's Church in Milan on May 22, 1874, on the first anniversary of Manzoni's death. A Revolutionary Composition Verdi’s Requiem was revolutionary in several respects. Traditionally, a requiem is a prayer of the living for the dead, but Verdi’s work engages both the living and the dead, giving it a dramatic, almost theatrical quality. Written for four solo voices—soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and bass—alongside a full choir and orchestra, it follows the structure of the Roman Catholic Latin Mass for the Dead. The libretto draws directly fro...

MusiLLection

Search This Blog