The Life of Schubert (Musical Lives)

About this book

Franz Schuberts tragically short life was lived in one of Europes most richly musical cities: a Vienna that worshipped Beethoven and where Rossini and Paganini drew crowds. Christopher Gibbs considers how and what Schubert composed taking a fresh look at this misunderstood composer particularly the unfolding of his professional career his relationship to Beethoven the growth of his reputation and public image and his darker side of drinking depression and sexual ambiguity. This searching and sympathetic biography questions the customary sentimental clichs and the recent revisionist views concerning this elusive genius.