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Donald Macleod delves into the bleakness and brilliance of Schubert鈥檚 final year, including his sublime String Quintet in C

Franz Schubert鈥檚 short life spanned a crucial period in music history as the elegant, classical stylings of Mozart and Haydn were giving way to the drama and passion of the romantic era. Schubert came to embody that transformation, in music that was all about personal expression and individual inspiration. This week, Donald Macleod throws the spotlight on Schubert鈥檚 chamber music and explores the stories around five key works for small ensembles.

In 1828, Schubert turned 31. He was still a young man but his health and his mental condition was slowly reaching crisis point. He wouldn鈥檛 live to see his next birthday. Schubert鈥檚 friendships had become increasingly strained and, as he grew more isolated, he was also drinking heavily. Schubert found it difficult to interest publishers in his music even though, during these final months of pain and anguish, he was composing some of his finest works, including his String Quintet in C major. Benjamin Britten said of the Quintet鈥檚 second movement that it鈥檚 as if one was overhearing Schubert鈥檚 farewell to the world.

Fugue in E minor, D952
Paul Lewis, piano
Steven Osborne, piano

Auf dem Strom, D943
Mark Padmore, tenor
Richard Watkins, horn
Paul Lewis, piano

String Quintet in C, D956 (Adagio & Scherzo)
Tokyo String Quartet
David Watkin, cello

String Quartet No 14 in D minor, D810 鈥淒eath and the Maiden鈥� (Andante con moto)
The Hagen Quartet

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 主播大秀 Wales