I've always loved the idea of European salons but didn't really know much about them in a historical context with classical music and trios getting together... very cool! Love the piece selection too. Saving this post for inspiration! :)
A beautiful article. I only just recently took an in depth listen to Schubert's music and he quickly became one of my favorite classical composers. I love how intimate and melancholy his music can be.
Thanks so much for reading! I'm envious of you — Schubert is one of those composers I fantasize about encountering for the first time all over again. (Thankfully there are more than 900 works of his to explore, so my journey of discovery is not yet complete.)
Next week I'll be publishing my latest Branching Out post, which will offer a few more works of Schubert to explore. Stay tuned!
Gorgeous!! You’ve convinced me to build a time machine ...To be just an insignificant fly on the wall during those Schubertiades! This time I tried something new and listened to the piece before reading your essay. New depth during my second listen, especially with the added emotional layer of Schubert, Vogt, Bowie’s tragic passings. Dracula and Interview yes yes yes! But I can’t believe I’ve never seen The Hunger! To tide me over until I can, I found this beautiful edit set to Schubert’s Trio in E Flat (https://youtu.be/aHAn34xWChM) Also have to add Nadja to the list once I saw your Portishead comment and watched THE MOOD that is that trailer! 💙
Right? Those Schubertiades must have been so much fun to attend! Make sure that time machine has room for two. :)
And yes — Schubert's music makes a couple appearances in The Hunger. (Including a steamy shower scene with Miriam and John.) You'll love it! Nadja is also a must-watch — I can only describe as Dracula meets Eraserhead meets Reality Bites. In other words, perfection. 💙💙
This music is just gorgeous, Michael. And the story of Lars adds so much to the tragic tones in the performance. And melancholia is a reminder of life’s perseverance, too. Thank you for introducing me to more wonderful work that I am now saving on Spotify.
I have never seen The Hunger but it has all the people and motifs of a marvellous (Halloween) film. Interesting to consider the music of vampire films as well!
Thanks for reading, Kate — I'm so glad you enjoyed your time in Schubert's world. You're absolutely right in that the bittersweet nature of life, having to move through emotions of light and dark, helps make life even more precious and the desire to persevere even greater. That's so much of what I love about Schubert — regardless of whether the music is in a sunny major key or that of a shadowy minor, the emotional palette he presents is always exploring the liminal connections between the extremes of human emotions. It's his special brand of musical sorcery.
And I have a feeling you'll love The Hunger! It balances the splendor of high gothic with the grime of 1980s NYC so well. 💙
Another beautiful article built around this wonderful music. How heart rending that this was Lars Vogt's final project. Like David Bowie he embraced his art until the final moment and, in Bowie's case, beyond it.
That Klimt painting is just superb. I love the beautiful illustrations you use, and as for the movies...! I just love your choice of horror viewing, and could ramble on about those three fabulous films, so I'll spare you that and just give two recommendations for anyone who hasn't seen them.
For vampire lovers, Nadja (1994) and for Oldman lovers like me, Prick Up Your Ears (1987) where he plays Joe Orton so well and resembles him so closely it's uncanny.
Thanks for another informative piece Michael. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks for your lovely comment, Jules — so glad you enjoyed your experience with Schubert's trio!
The comparison you make between Bowie and Vogt is intriguing. There's definitely something to be said for an artist putting the creativity into overdrive when they sense their time on this earthly plane is running out. Both Blackstar and Vogt's Schubert album carry an undeniable heat and beauty within them. (I can't help but to also see parallels between Schubert and Bowie's character in the Hunger — both achieving immortality of sorts despite a terrible disease overtaking their flesh and blood.)
And I'm so thankful for these movie recommendations! It's been ages since I've seen Nadja, and definitely time for a fresh viewing (hearing Portishead and My Bloody Valentine in the trailer just now made my Gen X heart so happy). Prick Up Your Ears is news to me — I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend afternoon than with a young Gary Oldman. 😍
I hope you manage to see Prick Up Your Ears. I thought it was brilliant - based on the Orton diaries I think, and I went on to read those after I saw the film. Oldman and Alfred Molina were so good! A tragic event at its heart but also a fascinating snapshot of the times.
I've always loved the idea of European salons but didn't really know much about them in a historical context with classical music and trios getting together... very cool! Love the piece selection too. Saving this post for inspiration! :)
Those intimate salon performances must have been so fun to attend. So glad you found inspiration in this story and Schubert's trio!
A beautiful article. I only just recently took an in depth listen to Schubert's music and he quickly became one of my favorite classical composers. I love how intimate and melancholy his music can be.
Thanks so much for reading! I'm envious of you — Schubert is one of those composers I fantasize about encountering for the first time all over again. (Thankfully there are more than 900 works of his to explore, so my journey of discovery is not yet complete.)
Next week I'll be publishing my latest Branching Out post, which will offer a few more works of Schubert to explore. Stay tuned!
Yes I feel I’ve only scratched the surface. I’m looking forward to your post next week!
Gorgeous!! You’ve convinced me to build a time machine ...To be just an insignificant fly on the wall during those Schubertiades! This time I tried something new and listened to the piece before reading your essay. New depth during my second listen, especially with the added emotional layer of Schubert, Vogt, Bowie’s tragic passings. Dracula and Interview yes yes yes! But I can’t believe I’ve never seen The Hunger! To tide me over until I can, I found this beautiful edit set to Schubert’s Trio in E Flat (https://youtu.be/aHAn34xWChM) Also have to add Nadja to the list once I saw your Portishead comment and watched THE MOOD that is that trailer! 💙
Right? Those Schubertiades must have been so much fun to attend! Make sure that time machine has room for two. :)
And yes — Schubert's music makes a couple appearances in The Hunger. (Including a steamy shower scene with Miriam and John.) You'll love it! Nadja is also a must-watch — I can only describe as Dracula meets Eraserhead meets Reality Bites. In other words, perfection. 💙💙
OK I love every.single.one of those things! To the top of the list!! (Plus Time Machine two-seater!✔️)
This music is just gorgeous, Michael. And the story of Lars adds so much to the tragic tones in the performance. And melancholia is a reminder of life’s perseverance, too. Thank you for introducing me to more wonderful work that I am now saving on Spotify.
I have never seen The Hunger but it has all the people and motifs of a marvellous (Halloween) film. Interesting to consider the music of vampire films as well!
Thanks for reading, Kate — I'm so glad you enjoyed your time in Schubert's world. You're absolutely right in that the bittersweet nature of life, having to move through emotions of light and dark, helps make life even more precious and the desire to persevere even greater. That's so much of what I love about Schubert — regardless of whether the music is in a sunny major key or that of a shadowy minor, the emotional palette he presents is always exploring the liminal connections between the extremes of human emotions. It's his special brand of musical sorcery.
And I have a feeling you'll love The Hunger! It balances the splendor of high gothic with the grime of 1980s NYC so well. 💙
These liminal connections are all 💙💙
Another beautiful article built around this wonderful music. How heart rending that this was Lars Vogt's final project. Like David Bowie he embraced his art until the final moment and, in Bowie's case, beyond it.
That Klimt painting is just superb. I love the beautiful illustrations you use, and as for the movies...! I just love your choice of horror viewing, and could ramble on about those three fabulous films, so I'll spare you that and just give two recommendations for anyone who hasn't seen them.
For vampire lovers, Nadja (1994) and for Oldman lovers like me, Prick Up Your Ears (1987) where he plays Joe Orton so well and resembles him so closely it's uncanny.
Thanks for another informative piece Michael. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks for your lovely comment, Jules — so glad you enjoyed your experience with Schubert's trio!
The comparison you make between Bowie and Vogt is intriguing. There's definitely something to be said for an artist putting the creativity into overdrive when they sense their time on this earthly plane is running out. Both Blackstar and Vogt's Schubert album carry an undeniable heat and beauty within them. (I can't help but to also see parallels between Schubert and Bowie's character in the Hunger — both achieving immortality of sorts despite a terrible disease overtaking their flesh and blood.)
And I'm so thankful for these movie recommendations! It's been ages since I've seen Nadja, and definitely time for a fresh viewing (hearing Portishead and My Bloody Valentine in the trailer just now made my Gen X heart so happy). Prick Up Your Ears is news to me — I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend afternoon than with a young Gary Oldman. 😍
I hope you manage to see Prick Up Your Ears. I thought it was brilliant - based on the Orton diaries I think, and I went on to read those after I saw the film. Oldman and Alfred Molina were so good! A tragic event at its heart but also a fascinating snapshot of the times.