Austrian composer. Of all the great Viennese composers Schubert was the only one who was native Viennese. He was an important contributor to many areas of the classical repertoire. In the field of orchestral, chamber and piano music he enriched the world with numerous masterpieces while as a writer of Lieder he can quite justly be regarded as the unequalled master of the genre. At the time when Beethoven actually controlled musical life in Vienna Schubert only managed to become famous within his circle of music loving friends. His only breakthrough during his lifetime was his rise as composer of Lieder, of which Schubert saw the publication of one third of a total output of more than 600. Also published were several piano compositions and works known under the collective German name of Gesellschaftsmusik. Schubert's orchestral and chamber works, however, had to wait until the late 19th century for the appreciation they deserved. Many of these works now belong to the mainstream classical music. Even Schubert's stage works, ignored for a long time, are gaining more and more attention. Schubert lived on the eve of Romanticism. Consequently many people tend to regard him as a Romantic composer. Closer examination shows, however, that he is to be regarded as a Classical composer in the tradition of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, the so-called First Viennese School. Schubert did not leave the path of Classical forms, which the Romantic composers sought to dispense with. Especially his later works show his adherence to Classical traditions.

Biographical notes (c) 1996 Philips Classics Productions

A selection of his works:

Orchestral: 9 Symphonies (the best known being No. 8 the "Unfinished" and No. 9 "The Great" are the most famous, No. 7 is lost), Overtures.

Chamber: Octet, Piano Quintet The Trout, String Quintet in C, 15 String Quartets (No. 13 Rosamunde, No. 14 Death and the Maiden), 2 Piano Trios, Sonatinas for Piano and Violin.

Instrumental solo: Ecossaises, German Dances, Impromptus, Ländler, Minuets, Moments musicaux, Rondos, Sonatas, Waltzes, Wanderer Fantasy.

Vocal: Lieder: Gretchen am Spinnrade, Erlkönig, Die Forelle, An Sylvia, An die Musik, Auf dem Wasser zu singen, Ave Maria, Ganymed, Der Einsame, Heidenröslein, Im Abendrot, Im Frühling, Meeres Stille, Der Musensohn, Ständchen, Der Wanderer, Wiegenlied, Die schöne Müllerin (cycle), Winterreise (cycle), Schwanengesang (cycle) and many more

Choral: Deutsche Messe, Masses, Magnificat.

Stage Works: Fierrabras (opera), Rosamunde (incidental music), Des Teufels Lustschloss (opera)