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Topic: Did Beethoven and Schubert ever meet? (Read 13629 times)

stormx

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Did Beethoven and Schubert ever meet?

on: January 19, 2005, 06:17:17 PM

Hi !!

Recently, i have been listening to many Schubert piano pieces (interpreted by Schiff and Perahia), and i really like them !!

As a result, i did a very little research in Internet about Schubert life...
Besides being surprised by his really early death (what a pitty for such a brilliant composer), i read that he lived in the same city as Beethoven, and at the same epoque.

According to some article, Beethoven was a celebrity widely known, but Schubert was a much more obscure composer, only known by his inner friends circle.

Apparently, they did never meet (but this is arguable). Some even say that Beethoven was completely unaware of Schubert existence!! (the reverse being obviously false).
However, there is a version that Beethoven mentionned Schubert just before he died, but this seems to be just a rumour.

Do any of you know more about Beethoven and Schubert interaction (if any)?

Thanks,

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allchopin

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Re: Did Beethoven and Schubert ever meet?

Reply #1 on: January 19, 2005, 06:29:58 PM

I believe Schubert was too shy to meet his idol, Beethoven, before he (Beethoven) died... but I believe when Schubert was younger Beethoven may have met him.

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stormx

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Posts: 396

Re: Did Beethoven and Schubert ever meet?

Reply #2 on: January 20, 2005, 08:23:24 PM

I have just found the following reference to the subject, in a webpage containing a biography of Schubert:

<<<Even Beethoven, living in Vienna at the same time with Schubert, had not heard of him until Schubert was twenty-five years old and had already composed hundreds of his immortal songs, symphonies, concertos and operas. Not till 1822 did Schubert think of presenting in person to the master he honored so highly his Variations on a French Song. Beethoven, then in his fifty-second year and suffering from deafness, expressed the wish that Schubert should write the answer to his questions. But Schubert, out of sheer nervousness, felt as if his hands were tied and fettered. Some remarks of Beethoven uttered on an inaccuracy in the harmonies of his variations disconcerted Schubert the more, and the result was that never, until Beethoven lay dying, did Schubert see him again, as he had not the courage to repeat what had been a nerve-racking experience. Beethoven, on the contrary, after the interview, was most favorably impressed with Schubert, and commenced to study the young composer's works with keen interest. Especially, as Schindler states, Iphigenie, Gransen der Menschheit, Allmacht, Junge Nonne, Viola and the Mullerlieder impressed him deeply.>>>

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Troldhaugen

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Re: Did Beethoven and Schubert ever meet?

Reply #3 on: January 20, 2005, 09:07:29 PM

I think Schubert and Beethoven actually never met. But, it's no secret that he was such a huge fan of Beethoven though. Schubert was especially saddened by the news of Beethoven's death. I heard Schubert was actually among mourners who carried his casket.....or something....I could be wrong...Anyway, I wonder what could've happened to the course of classical music if Schubert and Beethovrn had met.

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