Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was a Viennese composer who stood at the hinge between the Classical and Romantic eras, producing over 600 songs, nine symphonies, and a large body of chamber and piano music in just 31 years. He is widely credited with bringing the German Lied to artistic maturity, and his song cycles Winterreise and Die schöne Müllerin remain central to the vocal repertoire. Works such as the 'Unfinished' Symphony and the String Quintet in C major were unknown to the public during his lifetime and only revealed their full stature in the decades after his death.
The Schubertiade festival in Hohenems and Schwarzenberg marks its 50th anniversary in 2026 with an expanded programme across six series, including the Hagen Quartet's farewell European concerts.
The Hagen Quartet performs its final European concerts at the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg in June 2026 before disbanding.
The New Schubert Edition (Neue Schubert-Ausgabe), a scholarly complete-works project begun in 1956, is scheduled to conclude in 2027 with 177 projected volumes published by Bärenreiter.
Baritone Samuel Hasselhorn and pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz are releasing one Schubert Lieder CD per year on Harmonia Mundi as part of their 'Schubert 200' project, building toward the bicentenary of the composer's death in November 2028.
The 200th anniversary of Schubert's death on 19 November 2028 is prompting concert series, recordings, and festival programmes across Europe.
