Schwarzenberg, Bregenzerwald
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Musicians from the Schubertiade Festival
Join a Schubertiade
Once upon a time, Schubert’s music was exclusively played at intimate house soirees, famously known as Schubertiaden. Today the composer’s concerts are very much intact, whether in alpine scenery, or a more underground setting.
by Marsa Kindl-Omuse and Marietta Steinhart
Wien Museum
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Music parties
Schubert was rather poor most of his life. He famously crashed with his friends, and for the longest time he didn't even have his own piano. During his lifetime his Lieder (songs) were mainly heard by a small group of dedicated friends, who would come to his intimate musical soirees, which became all the rage in 19th century Vienna as so called "Schubertiaden.”
As shy as Schubert may have been in public, the more sociable he was among friends. People would dance, sing, play charades, drink, and read poetry, while the music man was sitting at the piano, playing his latest work. Apparently, he was neither a boozer, nor a party animal, but it is said that a glass of wine did occasionally help with inspiration. A letter from his composer friend Anselm Hüttenbrenner reads:
"One evening I invited Schubert over to me because I ... had received several bottles of red wine ... After we had emptied the noble Sexarder down to the last drop, he sat down at my desk and composed the wonderfully lovely Lied ‘Die Forelle.’ "
Schubert’s Place of Death
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A happy little trout
"Die Forelle" is also a charming Lied that serves as an example of music tailor-made for Schubertiade evenings. Its storyline is about life and death, and its title character, „a happy little trout,” is killed by a heartless fisherman.
It is said that one night, Schubert performed this new song, when someone in the audience said: „You know, Franz, the accompanying topic reminds me very much of Beethoven's Coriolan Overture.” Schubert apparently replied: „Well, then it's nothing new, get rid of it!” and wanted to tear up the sheet of music. Luckily, he could be persuaded, to not irrevocably destroy what today is one of his most famous songs.
„Mozart and Beethoven reach heaven - Schubert comes from there.”
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Oskar Werner
The Schubertiade Festival in Vorarlberg
Today, the term Schubertiade still refers to intimate concerts and festivals. The most well-known and experience-worthy is the Schubertiade Festival in Austria's Alpine region Vorarlberg.
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Schubertiade Schwarzenberg, Angelika-Kauffmann-Saal media_content.tooltip.skipped
Not to see and be seen
Despite this festival’s world-class atmosphere, it is not a place to see and be seen. Picturesque hills, charming villages and towns, friendly people, and music fans from all over the world make up the unique, tranquil vibe of the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg and Hohenems.
It is all about keeping this festival at an intimate character, peacefully listening to top-quality music, and enjoying a good conversation about it at dinner afterwards with like-minded friends.
Schubert would probably have loved it!
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