Tag: Franz Schubert

Classical Music Timeline: 1840s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1840
May 7 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was born in Votkinsk, Russia

September 30 – Johan Svendsen (1840-1911) was born in Oslo, Norway

1841
January 18 – Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894) was born in Ambert, France

March 31 – Symphony No. 1 in B♭ major, op. 38, “Spring”, by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

September 8 – Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) was born in Nelahozeves, Czech Republic

October 17 – Symphony No. 5 in B♭ major, D. 485, by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

December 6 – The 1st version of Symphony No. 4 in D minor, op. 120 (much preferred by Johannes Brahms) by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

1842
Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) completed Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 32

March 3 – Symphony No. 3 in A minor, op. 56, “Scottish”, by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

March 9 – Sinfonia from the opera Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was first performed in Milan, Italy

May 12 – Jules Massenet (1842-1912) was born in Saint-Étienne, France

December 9 – Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera by Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857), was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia

1843
January 8 – Piano Quintet in E♭ major, op. 44 by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

June 15 – Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was born in Bergen, Norway

1844
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, op. 58

February 21 – Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) was born in Lyon, France

March 18 – Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) was born in Tikhvin, Russia

1845
Charles Auguste de Bériot (1802-1870) completed the Violin Concerto No. 8 in D major, op. 99

Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) completed Capriccio brillante on the Jota aragonesa, Spanish Overture No. 1

March 13 – Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64, by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

May 12 – Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) was born in Pamiers, France

December 4 – Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 54 by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was first performed in Dresden, Germany

1846
November 5 – Symphony No. 2 in C major, op. 61 by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

1847
Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) completed Symphony No. 3 in G minor, op. 36

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Waltz in C♯ minor, op. 64, no. 2

November 4 – Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) died in Leipzig, Germany

1849
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) completed the Romances and Ballads, op. 75, for SATB choir a cappella

March – Robert Schumann (1810-1856) completed the Romances, op. 69, for female voices (SSAA) a cappella

March – Robert Schumann (1810-1856) completed the Romances, op. 91, for female SSAA choir a cappella

October 17 – Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) died in Paris, France

December 8 – Sinfonia from the opera Luisa Miller by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was first performed in Naples, Italy

←1830s

1850s→

Classical Music Timeline: 1830s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1831
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Étude in C minor, op. 10, no. 12, “Revolutionary”

1832
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Three Nocturnes, op. 9

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Étude in E major, op. 10, no. 3, “Tristesse”

May 14 – Overture to The Hebrides, in B minor, op. 26, by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was first performed in London, England

1833
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Four Mazurkas, op. 17

May 7 – Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was born in Hamburg, Germany

November 12 – Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia

1834
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Fantasie Impromptu in C♯ minor, op. 66

November 23 – Harold in Italy, op. 16, H. 68, by Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) was first performed in Paris, France

1835
October 9 – Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was born in Paris, France

November 9 – Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 7, by Clara Schumann (1819-1896) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

1836
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) completed Fantasie in C major, op. 17

January 30 – Octet for Strings in E♭ major, op. 20, by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

December 9 – A Life for the Tsar, opera, by Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia

1837
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Étude in C minor, op. 25, no. 12, “Ocean”

January 2 – Mily Balakirev (1837-1910) was born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

June 23 – Ernest Guiraud (1837-1892) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana

1838
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Prelude in A minor, op. 28, no. 2

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Prelude in E minor, op. 28, no. 4

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) completed Scenes from Childhood, op. 15

January 6 – Max Bruch (1838-1920) was born in Cologne, Germany

October 25 – Georges Bizet (1838-1875) was born in Paris, France

1839
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Prelude in D♭ major, op. 28, no. 15, “Raindrop”

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Prelude in C minor, op. 28, no. 20

March 21 – Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944 “The Great” by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany

March 21 – Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) was born in Karevo, Russia

←1820s

1840s→

Classical Music Timeline: 1820s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1820
December – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Quartettsatz (Movement for String Quartet) in C minor, D. 703

1821
October 16 – Franz Doppler (1821-1883) was born in Lviv, Ukraine

1822
December 10 – César Franck (1822-1890) was born in Liège, Belgium

1823
January 27 – Édouard Lalo (1823-1892) was born in Lille, France

1824
March 2 – Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) was born in Litomyšl, Czech Republic

September 4 – Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) was born in Ansfelden, Austria

1825
April – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Ave Maria, op. 52, no. 6

October 25 – Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) was born in Vienna, Austria

1826
August 26 – Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream in E major, op. 21 by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was first performed in Berlin, Germany

October – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed String Quartet No. 16 in F major, op. 135

1827
March 26 – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) died in Vienna, Austria

November – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Piano Trio in E♭ major, D. 929

1828
March 23 – String Quartet No. 16 in F major, op. 135 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

May – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Three Piano Pieces, D. 946

November 19 – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) died in Vienna, Austria

December 14 – Symphony No. 6 in C major, D. 589 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

1829
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) completed Étude in C major, op. 10, no. 1, “Waterfall”

October 4 – Mass No. 6 in E♭ major, D. 950 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

←1810s

1830s→

Classical Music Timeline: 1810s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1810
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 26 in E♭ major, op. 81a, “Les Adieux”

March 1 – Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) was born in Żelazowa Wola, Poland

June 8 – Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was born in Zwickau, Saxony, Germany

1811
January 13 – Piano Concerto No. 5 in E♭ major, op. 73 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

October 22 – Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was born in Raiding, Austria

1813
May 22 – Richard Wagner (1813-1883) was born in Leipzig, Germany

October 9 – Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was born in Le Roncole, Italy

December 8 – Symphony No. 7 in A major, op. 92 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

1814
February 27 – Symphony No. 8 in F major, op. 93 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was first performed in Vienna, Austria

1819
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) completed Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 “Trout”

September 13 – Clara Wieck [later Schumann] (1819-1896) was born in Leipzig, Germany

←1800s

1820s→

Classical Music Timeline: 1790s

This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.

1791
March 11 – Symphony No. 96 in D major, Hob. I/96 “Miracle” by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

June 23 – Ave verum corpus, motet in D major, K. 618, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was first performed in Baden bei Wien, Austria

December 5 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) died in Vienna, Austria

1792
February 29 – Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was born in Pesaro, Italy

March 23 – Symphony No. 94 in G major, Hob. I/94 “Surprise” by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

1793
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed Piano Sonata “Un piccolo divertimento” (Variations) in F minor, Hob XVII: 6

1795
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) wrote Rondo a Capriccio in G major, now known as “Rage Over a Lost Penny”, op. 129

February 2 – Symphony No. 102 in B♭ major, Hob. I/102 by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was first performed in London, England

1797
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed String Quartet in G major, op. 76, no. 1, Hob. III:75

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed String Quartet in C major, op. 76, no. 3, Hob. III:77 “Emperor”

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) completed String Quartet in B♭ major, op. 76, no. 4, Hob. III:78 “Sunrise”

January 31 – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was born in Vienna, Austria

1798
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Romance No. 2 in F major for violin and orchestra, op. 50

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) completed Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, op. 13 “Pathétique”

←1780s

1800s→

Four Last Songs

German composer Richard Strauss (1864-1949) composed his Four Last Songs (Vier letzte Lieder) in 1948 at the age of 84.  These extraordinarily beautiful orchestral songs were the last completed compositions by Strauss, save for a song for soprano and piano called “Malven” composed later that same year and virtually unknown until 1984.

John Rockwell writes in the September 15, 1984 issue of the New York Times: “Strauss, who died in September 1949 at the age of 85, is widely believed to be the finest composer in the German song tradition after Franz Schubert and Hugo Wolf, with an affinity for the soprano voice.  In addition, his final compositions of the 1940’s are especially prized, blending autumnal mastery with late-blooming inspiration.”

The Four Last Songs were neither published nor performed until after Strauss’ death.  Their first performance was on May 22, 1950 at the Royal Albert Hall in London by legendary soprano Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962) and Wilhelm Furtwängler (1886-1954) conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra.

  1. Frühling [Spring]
  2. September
  3. Beim Schlafengehen [When Falling Asleep]
  4. Im Abendrot [At Sunset]

Earlier, I wrote about the extraordinary recording of Also sprach Zarathustra by Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic.  Another indispensable Strauss recording is soprano Kiri Te Kanawa (who retired from professional singing just last month) singing Four Last Songs and six other Strauss orchestral songs with Sir Andrew Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra (Sony Classical SK 92606), January 13-20, 1977.

Te Kanawa is the perfect soprano to sing Four Last Songs, and I doubt you will find a better performance.  Six additional R. Strauss orchestral songs make this a recording that should be in every Strauss enthusiast’s collection.

  1. Morgen [Tomorrow]
  2. Muttertändelei [Mother-chatter]
  3. Ruhe, meine Seele [Rest, my soul]
  4. Wiegenlied [Lullaby]
  5. Befreit [Released]
  6. Zueignung [Dedication]