Main content

Schubert - The Dark Side

Tom Service delves into the dark side of Franz Schubert. What can we hear in his music? And what life lessons can it teach us?

Tom Service delves into the dark side of Franz Schubert. What can we hear in his music?

A provincial composer who died young, described as looking like a "little mushroom", on the face of it Franz Schubert doesn't seem a likely candidate for deep insight into the human condition. But appearances are very definitely deceptive, and some of his music can seem deceptively straightforward as well. Join Tom Service for a journey into Schubert's psyche and discover what his music tells us about the man, and perhaps about ourselves.

With Dr Laura Tunbridge of Oxford University.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Feb 2019 17:00

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Lilac Time (arr Heinrich Berté & G. H. Clutsam)

    Performer: Michael Collins and his Orchestra. Music Arranger: Heinrich Berté & G. H. Clutsam.
    • Schubert: Highlights from Lilac Time, etc..
    • Warner Classics 3359892.
  • Franz Schubert

    Winterreise - song-cycle (D.911), no.24; Der Leiermann

    Performer: Paul Lewis. Performer: Mark Padmore.
    • Schubert - Winterreise D911.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Franz Schubert

    Marche militaire in D major, D.733 no.1

    Performer: Maria João Pires. Performer: Hüseyin Sermet.
    • Schubert MJ Pires H Sermet Fantasy D940 Marches Rondos.
    • Erato.
  • Franz Schubert

    Die Forelle D.550

    Performer: Elly Ameling. Performer: Rudolf Jansen.
    • Lieder.
    • Philips.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony no. 9 (D.944) in C major "Great", 2nd mvt; Andante con moto

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Performer: Günter Wand.
    • ܲ:S⳾DzԾ--8--9.
    • RCA.
  • Franz Schubert

    Heidenroslein (D.257)

    Performer: Werner Güra. Performer: Christoph Berner.
    • Schubert: Willkommen und Abschied.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony no. 1 (D.82) in D major, 1st movement; Adagio - allegro vivace

    Performer: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Performer: Claudio Abbado.
    • Schubert: Symphonie Nos. 1 & 2 - Claudio Abbado.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Franz Schubert

    12 Wiener Deutsche Tänze, D. 128, no 1

    Performer: Martijn van den Hoek.
    • Schubert sonatas.
    • Brilliant Classics.
  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata in A minor, D.784 - First movement

    Performer: Alfred Brendel.
    • Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos. 14 & 17.
    • Philips.
  • Franz Schubert

    Quartet for strings (D.810) in D minor "Death and the maiden", 4th mvt; Presto

    Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet.
    • Schubert: The Late Quartets; Quintet.
    • DG.
  • Franz Schubert

    Schwanengesang - song-cycle D.957 for voice and piano - no.4; Standchen

    Performer: Nils Mönkemeyer. Performer: Nicholas Rimmer.
    • Sony.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony no. 9 in C major D.944 (Great) - 4th movt

    Performer: Orchestra Mozart. Performer: Claudio Abbado.
    • Schubert.
    • DG.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no. 9 (Op.125) in D minor "Choral", 4th mvt; Presto - allegro assai

    Performer: Eric Ericsons Kammarkör. Performer: Swedish Chamber Choir. Performer: Berlin Phiharmonic. Performer: Claudio Abbado.
    • Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (complete).
    • DG.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony no. 9 (D.944) in C major "Great", 2nd mvt; Andante con moto

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Performer: Günter Wand.
    • RCA.
  • Franz Schubert

    String Quartet in G, D.887

    Performer: Belcea Quartet.
    • EMI.
  • Franz Schubert

    Sonata for piano (D.960) in B flat major

    Performer: Alfred Brendel.
    • Decca.
  • Franz Schubert

    Der Leiermann (Winterreise D.911)

    Singer: Thomas Quasthoff. Performer: Charles Spencer.
    • Winterreise.
    • RCA.
  • Franz Schubert

    The Hurdy Gurdy Man (Der Leiermann)

    Performer: Harry Plunket Greene.
    • EMI.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 23 Oct 2016 17:00
  • Sun 3 Feb 2019 17:00

Why do we call it 'classical' music?

Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).

Six of the world's most extreme voices

From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.

Watch the animations

Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.

When does noise become music?

We like to think we can separate “noise” from “music”, but is it that simple?

Podcast