Franz Schubert (film)
Encyclopedia
Franz Schubert is a 1953 Austrian film depicting composer Franz Schubert
's life and work.
to be his unattainable role model, devotes himself to writing music. As public acceptance is denied to him, his friends lobby at the music publisher Anton Diabelli
for a public performance of Schubert's music. During a reception, at which Schubert performs his Ave Maria
, he gets to know singer Therese Grob.
Schubert decides to quit the employment at his father's and, instead, to concentrate merely on music, and moves in his with friends, poets Franz von Schober and Moritz von Schwind
and painter Johann Mayerhofer. There, he is inspired to set Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
s ballad Der Erlkönig
to music.
Schubert friends encourage him to play his music in public. Schubert and Therese, who sings his songs, are made one. The two make a living with performing Schuberts songs. Schubert, though, develops doubts, whether he can express himself in songs appropriately, and so decides to turn to writing symphonies and operas. As Schubert applies for the position of a Vice Director of Music, Therese hands over to the Secretary of the Court Theatre Schuberts latest work, the Unfinished Symphony
. Disagreements arise during the rehearsals for Schubert's latest opera, as the singer of the leading part considers the music too difficult to sing; music publishers Tobias Haslinger and Anton Diabelli
reject his music. Even his very promising application as a Vice Director of Music proves to be unsuccessful.
Thus, depressed Schubert decides to tour his songs in order to make a living; in this period of time, he writes the Winterreise
.
After having returned, Schubert decides to have lessons in counterpoint
with Beethoven, but shies away from contacting his idol. Shortly later, while being plagued by health problems, Schubert gets a visit from Beethoven's secretary Anton Schindler
.
Sickly Beethoven sends some Goethe poems to Schubert to be set in music, as Beethoven regards Schubert to be the better song composer. As Schubert wants to visit Beethoven, he arrives too late: Beethoven has died; Schubert is one of the torchbearers during Beethoven's funeral. Suffering from more and more serious health problems, Schubert is no longer able to perceive the success of a public performance of his music; he dies one year after his idol.
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
's life and work.
Plot
Franz Schubert works as an assistant teacher in the school led by his father. In his spare time, however, the young man, who considers Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
to be his unattainable role model, devotes himself to writing music. As public acceptance is denied to him, his friends lobby at the music publisher Anton Diabelli
Anton Diabelli
Anton Diabelli was an Austrian music publisher, editor and composer of Italian descent. Best known in his time as a publisher, he is most familiar today as the composer of the waltz on which Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his set of thirty-three Diabelli Variations.-Early life:Diabelli was born in...
for a public performance of Schubert's music. During a reception, at which Schubert performs his Ave Maria
Ellens dritter Gesang
Ellens dritter Gesang , in English: "Ellen's Third Song", was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825 as part of his Opus 52, a setting of seven songs from Walter Scott's popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake, loosely translated into German.It has become one of Schubert's most popular works under the...
, he gets to know singer Therese Grob.
Schubert decides to quit the employment at his father's and, instead, to concentrate merely on music, and moves in his with friends, poets Franz von Schober and Moritz von Schwind
Moritz von Schwind
thumb|Moritz von Schwind, c. 1860Moritz von Schwind was an Austrian painter, born in Vienna.Moritz von Schwind received rudimentary training and spent a happy and carefree youth in Vienna. Among his companions was the composer Schubert, some of whose songs he illustrated...
and painter Johann Mayerhofer. There, he is inspired to set Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
s ballad Der Erlkönig
Der Erlkönig
Der Erlkönig is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It depicts the death of a child assailed by a supernatural being, the Erlking or "Erlkönig"...
to music.
Schubert friends encourage him to play his music in public. Schubert and Therese, who sings his songs, are made one. The two make a living with performing Schuberts songs. Schubert, though, develops doubts, whether he can express himself in songs appropriately, and so decides to turn to writing symphonies and operas. As Schubert applies for the position of a Vice Director of Music, Therese hands over to the Secretary of the Court Theatre Schuberts latest work, the Unfinished Symphony
Symphony No. 8 (Schubert)
Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor , commonly known as the "Unfinished Symphony" , D.759, was started in 1822 but left with only two movements known to be complete, even though Schubert would live for another six years. A scherzo, nearly completed in piano score but with only two pages...
. Disagreements arise during the rehearsals for Schubert's latest opera, as the singer of the leading part considers the music too difficult to sing; music publishers Tobias Haslinger and Anton Diabelli
Anton Diabelli
Anton Diabelli was an Austrian music publisher, editor and composer of Italian descent. Best known in his time as a publisher, he is most familiar today as the composer of the waltz on which Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his set of thirty-three Diabelli Variations.-Early life:Diabelli was born in...
reject his music. Even his very promising application as a Vice Director of Music proves to be unsuccessful.
Thus, depressed Schubert decides to tour his songs in order to make a living; in this period of time, he writes the Winterreise
Winterreise
Winterreise is a song cycle for voice and piano by Franz Schubert , a setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller. It is the second of Schubert's two great song cycles on Müller's poems, the earlier being Die schöne Müllerin...
.
After having returned, Schubert decides to have lessons in counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
with Beethoven, but shies away from contacting his idol. Shortly later, while being plagued by health problems, Schubert gets a visit from Beethoven's secretary Anton Schindler
Anton Felix Schindler
Anton Felix Schindler was an associate, secretary, and early biographer of Ludwig van Beethoven.His Life of Beethoven was first published in 1840 and, in its subsequently expanded form , had a great deal of influence on later Beethoven biography...
.
Sickly Beethoven sends some Goethe poems to Schubert to be set in music, as Beethoven regards Schubert to be the better song composer. As Schubert wants to visit Beethoven, he arrives too late: Beethoven has died; Schubert is one of the torchbearers during Beethoven's funeral. Suffering from more and more serious health problems, Schubert is no longer able to perceive the success of a public performance of his music; he dies one year after his idol.
Cast
- Heinrich SchweigerHeinrich SchweigerHeinrich Schweiger was a Viennese film and stage actor who played leading roles at the Burgtheater on the Ring beginning in 1949...
: Franz Schubert - Aglaja Schmid: Therese Grob
- Hans ThimigHans ThimigHans Emil Thimig, pseudonym: Hans Werner was an Austrian actor, film director and stage director.- Life :...
: Father Schubert - Karl Bosse: Heinrich Grob
- Maria EisMaria EisMaria Eis was an Austrian actress of stage and screen.Between 1918 and 1923 Eis performed on stage at the Neue Wiener Bühne , the Renaissancebühne and the Kammerspielen...
: Madame Schechner - Rolf WankaRolf WankaRolf Wanka was an Austrian actor. He appeared in over 100 films and television shows between 1931 and 1976.-Selected filmography:* Wehe, wenn er losgelassen * Father Vojtech...
: Franz Schober - Louis Soldan: Moritz von Schwind
- Michael Janisch: Bergmann
- Anni Korin: Netty
- Erwin StrahlErwin StrahlErwin Strahl was an Austrian actor. He was married to the Italian actress Franca Paris.He died on 20 April 2011 at the age of 82.-Selected filmography:* Franz Schubert * Der Jäger von Fall...
: Johann Mayerhofer - Karl Mittner: Ferdinand Schubert
- Fritz Hinz-Fabricius: Court opera singer Vogl
- Richard EybnerRichard Eybner-Selected filmography:* Kiss Me Casanova * Season in Salzburg * Franz Schubert * Wilhelm Tell * Sissi: The Young Empress * Eva * When the Grapevines Bloom on the Danube -External links:...
: Secretary of the Court theatre - Chariklia Baxevanos: Young girl
- Fritz Imhoff:
- Senta Wengraf
- Fred Hennings
- Otto TreßlerOtto TreßlerOtto Treßler was a German film actor. He appeared in 43 films between 1915 and 1962.He was born in Stuttgart, Germany and died in Vienna, Austria. He was a close friend to Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria....
- Franz Pfaudler
- Alma SeidlerAlma SeidlerAlma Seidler was an Austrian actress. She was the daughter of Ernst Seidler von Feuchtenegg, and had an extensive stage and screen career.- References :* at Österreich-Lexikon...
- Susanne Engelhart
- Karl Ehmann
- Marianne Gerzner
- Franz Herterich
- Gisa Wurm