Schubert: Symphony No. 9 (8) in C Major, D. 944 "Great" (Live)

Featuring

Mariss Jansons
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Franz Schubert

Did you know?

1/7

Performer Biography

Mariss Jansons, the conductor, was born in 1943 in Riga to conductor Arvīds Jansons and studied violin, piano, and conducting at the Leningrad Conservatory.

Composer Biography

In March 1824, Franz Schubert was suffering from a relapse of syphilis and disappointments in love and friendship, describing himself as 'the most unhappy, miserable man in the world'.

Cultural Impact

Schubert's Great C Major Symphony influenced almost all important 19th-century symphonists, including Gustav Mahler, though it initially had little success outside Leipzig.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Despite his personal struggles, Schubert aimed to 'pave the way to the great symphony' and create a work that could compare to Beethoven's monumental symphonies.

Compositional Technique

The symphony's first movement features a slow introduction with its own theme, a novel approach for Schubert, and its melodies contain the 'germ cells' for the entire work.

Composition History

Schubert composed the main part of this symphony during the summer of 1825 while on the longest journey of his life, traveling through picturesque Austrian landscapes.

Critical Reception

Robert Schumann discovered the symphony at Schubert's brother's lodgings and arranged its premiere in Leipzig in 1839, conducted by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.