Spotlight Performances: Schubert - An die Musik, D. 547

Performers: Chloé Hurst, soprano Eric Wong, piano This enduringly popular song of Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828), composed in 1817, is an ode to the art of music itself. Set to a poem written by his close friend Franz von Schober, it expresses heartfelt gratitude to music for bringing us into a better world even in our most difficult moments. We thought there could be no better song to kick off Music Friends Spotlight, because it reminds us of why we need music in the world, especially in the crazy times that we are living in now with the pandemic. The closing image is an 1897 painting by Julius Schmid of a Schubertiade, a private gathering of Schubert and his friends and admirers, sometimes held in the home of Schober, where the composer would share his latest music with the guests. It is the likely setting in which this song would have been heard, and also the atmosphere that Music Friends strives to evoke in our house concerts. If you enjoy this content, please consider a monthly membership on our Patreon to support our artists and allow us to continue producing inspiring online content during the pandemic. Memberships start from $3 USD per month and come with various exclusive perks:   / musicfriends   This performance was part of our Music Friends Spotlight virtual concert on May 23, 2020. The full presentation can be seen here:    • Music Friends Spotlight: Debut Virtual Con...