Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: December 20, 2005
• Run Time: 35 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B000BZIT8O
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,929 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

One of the greatest composers of the 19th century, Franz Schubert is widely regarded as the world’s finest songwriter. He had written two of his best songs, Gretchen am Spinnrade and Erlkönig, nearly 200 other songs, 3 masses, 3 symphonies, and much piano and chamber music all before his 19th birthday. He was immensely prolific in all musical genres; only his operas were not successful. His existence rested on the support of his friends and the occasional sale of his compositions. Schubert was not a concert performer and most of his works were written for intimate gatherings which were later called "Schubertaids." Schubert’s long list of accomplishments includes more than 300 sonatas for trios, quartets, and quintets, over 600 songs called "Lieder," and nine symphonies. Two of these, the Great and the Unfinished were performed after he died tragically at the age of 31.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars composer with chin dimple, November 10, 2007

By 

Jeffery Mingo (Homewood, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Famous Composers - Franz Schubert (DVD)

Like Vemeer and Neal Hurston, Schubert did not become famous until after he died. The documentary admits that he contracted syphilis and died in his early 30s. Not only did he have a pronounced chin dimple, so did his father.

The Bloomsbury group did not consist just of writers. It had painters, sculptures, economists, and others in it. This work states that Schubert hung with other creative people besides composers. The work focuses on artwork in which Schubert's image is included. In the same way that Boy George has only met his influence David Bowie once, the work states that Schubert only met Beethoven once. The work said Schubert and his buddy Schober often referred to themselves as "Schobert." I guess our portmanteaux like "Brangelina" and "TomKat" aren't that new. However, it was surprising to see this combine name in reference to same-sex friends, rather than an opposite-sex romantic couple.

This work can fit into your average high school period without having to show remaining parts on other days. Still, the work is entirely still images being flashed and only the narrator speaking. So in our soundbyte-intensive world, this documentary may be seen as dull. Maybe students in high school or junior high music classes wouldn't be that interested in sitting through it.