Franz Schubert: The Prolific Master of Romantic Melody
Austrian composer renowned for bridging Classical and Romantic eras through his prolific output of lieder, symphonies, and chamber music.
Born in Vienna, Schubert showed prodigious talent early. Despite financial struggles and limited public recognition during his lifetime, he composed over 600 lieder, 9 symphonies, and numerous chamber works before dying at 31.
- Composed his first masterpiece, "Gretchen am Spinnrade," at age 17 while infatuated with soprano Therese Grob, though her mother prevented their marriage due to his unstable finances.
- Lived in poverty throughout adulthood, often relying on friends for shelter and selling compositions for minimal sums (e.g., his iconic "Ave Maria" sold for about $0.20).
- Contracted syphilis in 1822, leading to severe health decline. His final years saw frenzied creativity despite illness, producing masterworks like the "Winterreise" song cycle.
- Died from typhoid fever complicated by syphilis and mercury poisoning (a common treatment). Buried near Beethoven at his request, with the epitaph: "The art of music here entombed a rich possession but even fairer hopes."
- The "Unfinished" Symphony (No. 8) remained incomplete for 37 years after his death. Its mysterious two-movement structure became legendary, with theories ranging from secret dedication to a married woman to compositional paralysis.
