Yes, he was born January 31 1797. And died at the age of 31 in 1828 - oh dear.......it is shocking to think of the loss of someone so young. But we have those 600 plus songs. And so much more. It is a good day to contemplate the short span of human life and how much can be achieved in such a short time.
We in the opera world really do not contemplate his operas - Fierrabras and Alfonso und Estrella have never made the grade for dramaturgical reasons. But above all we value him for the songs, the study of which makes such a huge contribution to the development and eventual maturity of opera singers.
And then there is all the other stuff - the piano music, the chamber music, the symphonies........what a miracle he was.
And let us not forget that this is the centenary year of the birth of Benjamin Britten. Schubert was his muse........
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