So much might be said about Franz Schubert (1797-1828), and we could start with comments by Beethoven (“Truly he has the divine fire in him”), Liszt (“The most poetical musician that ever was”), and the notorious Salieri, his teacher (“He can do everything! He has genius”).

His professional success in his lifetime was mixed. He tried numerous times for jobs of public employment, the last time as assistant conductor at the Karntnertor Theatre, but he was never appointed. But he did receive general acclaim for his compositions in the number of performances (70) and publications (478).

If asked to appraise his own life, no doubt Schubert would have commented on his meeting with Beethoven; his privilege to know Mozart’s music; and the friends, both musical and artistic, who surrounded him. One of them, Eduard von Bauernfeld, wrote years later that this companion of his at a bar, a concert, or a coffee house always enjoyed fun and stimulating activity, even when they had little money. He said that they frequently “alternated between want and plenty,” but the friendship never wavered.

In his brief life he wrote nine symphonies, chamber music, piano music, masses, and more than 600 songs, all of which are staples of their respective genres.

- Concert notes by Paul Lamar