User Reviews

I had to post this review after learning of the passing of the great lyric soprano Marta Eggerth, 12/26/2013. We met her once and she was kind, charming and full of stories.

SPOILERS: The young composer Franz Schubert is in financial straits and seeks to pawn his guitar to at least be able to pay his rent to continue. Emmy, the daughter of the local pawnbroker is impressed by his humble appearance and soft spoken ways so that she pays him a higher amount than the instrument is worth. Their friendship commences and she soon learns a song everyone seems to be singing on the streets was written by the young impoverished composer. Later he at his job teaching math to a class of young students when he becomes distracted and starts instead to compose music. But instead of being fired when caught by a superior he is offered a chance to perform for some very influential people at a forthcoming soirée and to be introduced to the Countess Kinsky.

With rented clothes he tries hard to impress everyone there with a very difficult and beautiful piece of music he wrote just for the occasion. However a beautiful young lady (Eggerth) arrives late and is teased by here friends until she laughs out loud spoiling the concert. The composer angrily stops and refuses to play on storming out of the event and ending his chances at being discovered by the elite.

With his career over before it started he needs a job and he's offered a commision by a very wealthy patron if he will come and give music lessons to his children. Schubert is surprised to discover the counts daughter is the same beauty who disrrupted his concert and she wants to make amends. He keeps his anger at bay and starts to instruct her in how to read music and she not only learns quickly but when she starts to sing the piece he is stunned at how beautiful her voice is! He then lets he know that the piece she so beautifully sang was also his composition.

Soon they start to develop feelings for each other but he knows they are far apart in class. She then tries to show she can love like a peasant girl when she dances a Czardas for him one evening at the village inn. Despite the differences both want to get married. However, her father thwarts their plans and arranges for a speedy marriage to a member of the aristocracy.

After his return to Vienna, Schubert receives a letter calling him back only to arrive on the wedding day.

Just at the time of the wedding Schubert arrives at the castle. As unexpected 'wedding gift' he hands her his unfinished symphony, which he finally completed. At the point at which they had then laughed particularly loud, Caroline now falls into a swoon. After a final discussion of the two Schubert decides prefer to let his composition but unfinished. Then he returns home permanently to Vienna.

His broken heart will now inspire a lifetime of beautiful music.