Goethe, a renowned German writer, became the literary lifeblood of the Romantic Lied, influencing composers like Mozart and Beethoven.
Historical Context
The Lied (art song) was not considered a revered genre in its own right until after the Congress of Vienna in 1815, during the Biedermeier period.
Historical Context
Art song in 18th-century Vienna was a diverse genre, influenced by intellectual Lieder from North Germany, folk music from Swabia, and Italian opera arias.
Composition History
Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 with a commission to receive 'Mozart's spirit from Haydn's hands,' becoming Haydn's pupil shortly after.
Instruments
Kristian Bezuidenhout performs on a fortepiano by Rosenberger, dating from around 1820, tuned to A = 430 with an unequal temperament.
Cultural Impact
Beethoven's pioneering song cycle, An die ferne Geliebte, provided a model for Schubert's later song cycles, Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise.
Composer Biography
Haydn became a cultural hero in Vienna after his trips to London in the 1790s, having previously been overlooked by the court and the Tonkünstler-Societät (Musicians' Society).
