Schubert Personalia

Bauernfeld, Eduard von

Dramatist, poet, diarist (1802-1890)

Translator of Shakespeare. Worked in the lottery office, later became full time writer. Close friend of Schubert from 1824/5. Wrote the libretto for 'Der Graf von Gleichen', an incomplete opera, plus 2 songs, including the translation for Was ist Sylvia?.

Bocklet, Karl Maria von

Musician. b Prague 1801, d Vienna 5 July 1881,

He began his career as a violinist , but later became a solo pianist and teacher, and founded a private school for piano duet playing, which his son took over. He played in the premieres of several Schubert works, was the pianist at Schubert's only concert and had the D Major sonata, D850 dedicated to him.

Bruchmann, Franz von

Poet, and (later) Redemptorist priest

Initially a student of philosophy. A member of the inner Schubert circle, he was the son of a rich merchant whose home became a centre for Schubertiads and encouragement of the cultural avant garde. Bruchman went to Germany to study philosophy with Fichte and Schelling. He became friends with August von Platen, to whose poems he introduced Schubert. He was arrested along with Schubert at the incident at Senn's. His sister Justine was secretly engaged to Franz von Schober, the exposure of which caused the circle to fracture. After the death of his wife he became a Roman Catholic priest, and broke from all the friends of his early years. His poetry was never published and only the 5 poems set by Schubert survive.

Castelli, Ignaz Franz, b 1781 d 1862

Austrian poet, playwright, writer, etc

Wrote the libretto to Schubert's Singspiel 'Die Verschworenen', and also to Josef Weigl's 'Die Schweizerfamilie' which turned Schubert to the stage. In later life he became Librarian and Secretary to Lower Austrian County Council. Schubert set just 2 songs to his words.

Chézy, Wilhelmine Christiane von, b1783 d1856.

German Playwright and novelist.

Wrote the libretto for Weber's Euryanthe and Schubert's Rosamunde, Fürstin von Zypern. Probably wrote the middle verses of 'Der Hirt auf dem Felsem'. Described by Bauernfeld as 'extremely good natured, somewhat ridiculous, cleanliness not her cardinal virtue'."

Diabelli, Anton, b Mattsee near Salzburg 1781, d 1858

Composer and Publisher.

Anton Diabelli became Peter Cappi's partner in 1818, and sole head of the firm in 1824. Schubert had an up and down relationship with Diabelli, accusing the company of cheating him and leaving them for a while, but eventually returning (his view, in a letter to his father in July 1825 was that all publishers were sharks - "But the wise and benevolent dispensations of the State have well and truly seen to it that an artist shall ever remain the slave of every wretched huckster"). Diabelli frequently took liberties with published works, 'improving', transposing etc. He was made famous by the Beethoven Diabelli variations - Diabelli sent a copy of a waltz theme of his own to many composers, suggesting that they write a variation on it. Beethoven, of course, wrote 33, with the work being published as Opus 120 by Cappi & Diabelli. They also eventually published a further 50 variations from other composers, including Czerny, Hummel, Liszt, Mozart (junior) and, naturally, Franz Schubert, whose variation dates from March 1821. Diabelli and Co acquired the majority of Schubert's unpublished works after his death from Ferdinand Schubert (the composer's brother), though they were so tardy in publishing some of them, that when Diabelli retired, and was succeeded by C.A.Spina, there were still many works to publish (e.g. the string Quintett in 1853). Diabelli and Co produced the first thematic catalogue of Schubert's works.

Grove, George, b Clapham 13 Aug 1820, d Sydenham 28 May 1900

Engineer, Music writer, biographer, editor.

Started working life as an engineer (he worked on the Menai Straits bridge). Became secretary of the Crystal Palace, and started to write 'analytical programmes' for the musical performances. In 1867 he rediscovered the Rosamunde music, in Vienna, on a trip with with Arthur Sullivan. From 1873 he was Editor of Groves Dictionary, for which he wrote the long article on Schubert, the first English Language biography. For many years this was regarded as the very best biography - it is full of juicy quotes, but many errors of fact and opinion. He subsequently became the first director of the Royal College of Music.

Huber, Josef, b Aschbach Lower Austria 1794, d 1870

Conveyancer.

A friend of Mayrhofer and Schubert who became a conveyancer in the court war accountancy. Schubert shared his lodgings (now demolished) in 1823-4. He was referred to as 'tall Huber' because of his height, thought to be a bit of a bore, and carricatured by Schwind. A poem by Schubert "The Spirit of the World" was found amongst his papers at his death. He married twice, to Rosalie Kranzbichler and Maria Schmidt. One of his letters to Rosalie has the first recorded reference to a "Schubertiad".

Kupelwieser, Leopold

Painter

Rieder, Wilhelm August, b Döbling 30 Sept 1796, d Vienna 8 Sept 1880

Painter.

Rieder was the artist of the famous watercolour portrait of Schubert on a chair (early May 1825), which is the basis for many later portraits. He was a member of the Schubert circle, who attended Schubertiads (and indeed is one of the faces in the famous picture of a Schubertiad drawn by Schwind). His brother Johann, a teacher, was described by Schubert's brother Ferdinand as 'my only real friend'.

Wilhelm Rieder became a professor at the Engineering academy in 1825. In later life he became the custodian of the Imperial picture gallery from 1857-78.

Rinna von Sarenbach, Ernst, b 1791/2, d 1837

Court Physician

Rinna became a doctor to the imperial court in 1824. He was Schubert's doctor during the last year of his life, and at the start of his final illness. He became ill himself when treating Schubert, and had to hand over the case to his colleague Josef von Vering. He wrote a book in 1833 called A compendium of the Most Efficacious Cures, Remedies, and Operating Methods.

von Schober, Franz

You name it, he tried it

Schubert, Andreas Theodor, b Vienna 7th Nov 1823, d 1893

Financial Councillor

Andreas was Schubert's stepbrother, aged just 5 at his death. Mind you, this didn't stop him from identifying a picture (the 'chalk picture') of a youth as being Schubert at 16. He does seem to have been more than a little irreverent - he took a tooth from Schubert's skull when it was exhumed, and destroyed the manuscript of Der Tod und das Mädchen, D531; by cutting it up into 8 pieces for souvenirs. He was also apparently the source of the rumour that Schubert was banned from the family home. He became a financial councillor, and married Anna Fleurriet.

von Schwind, Moritz

Painter

Senn, Johann Chrysostomus, b 1792 d 1857.

Tyrolean Poet

Friend of Schubert at the Konvict, from whence he was expelled. His rooms were raided by the police (looking for subversives) and he was arrested along with Schubert and others. He was imprisoned for 14 months and then banished from Vienna, his career ruined. Schubert set 2 songs to his words.

Stadler, Albert, b 1794, d 1888

Lawyer and local government officer

Fellow student at the Konvict, very close to Schubert in the early years. Came from Steyr. Made many copies of songs, becoming an important source. Wrote the libretto for the Singspiel 'Fernando', and the words of 2 Schubert songs, D222 & D695.

Vering, Dr. Josef Edler von, b Vienna 1793, d 1862

Doctor.

He was the son of one of Beethoven's doctors, and an expert on Syphilis (he wrote a book called On the treatment of Syphilis by applying a mercuric liniment). Commentators are divided on whether this specialism was the reason that he was called upon by Rinna, his friend, to treat Schubert's fatal illness, when Rinna himself fell ill. He later became a specialist in nervous complaints, ear troubles and gout.

Vogl, Johann Michael

Opera Singer

Wisgrill, Dr. Johann Baptist, b c 1795

Doctor.

He was a professor at the University of Vienna, and was called on for a consultation by Vering, 2 days before Schubert died. He is thought to have changed the treatment. Wisgrill had sung alto with Schubert in the court choir.