Das Dreimäderlhaus (1958)

In 1826, the great composer Beethoven gives a much-acclaimed piano concert, attended by the young Schubert, while his friends Baron Franz von Schober, Moritz von Schwind, Leopold Kupelwieser, and Johann Mayrhofer meet at an inn. Schubert is deeply moved and leaves without a word, prompting another listener to remark that he clearly knows nothing about music. Schubert joins his friends and has to listen as a music publisher tears Beethoven’s music to pieces. Unable to contain himself, he tells the man exactly what he thinks. Beethoven stands at such a lonely height that one can only gaze up at him in silence; one must kneel before him. The publisher, however, is not offended and says that he likes the young man. When Schubert introduces himself to the publisher Diabelli the next day, he recognizes him as the man he had clashed with the previous evening. Diabelli has just locked the celebrated Court Opera singer Vogl in a room so he will study Schubert’s songs. Before long, they can indeed hear him singing. “We’ll have to remember the name Schubert,” Diabelli tells one of his employees. Schubert meets his friend Moritz von Schwind, who is painting the Beethoven house. Shortly afterward, the composer, now almost completely deaf, comes out of his house, as serious as ever. Later, when the four friends are sitting together in Grinzing in the company of women, they use Schubert’s brief absence to hatch a plan: their friend must fall in love. Two of them think Hannerl Tschöll, from the House of the Three Girls, is the right choice. Only Baron von Schober holds back, since to him Hannerl is the most charming girl of all. They quickly decide to go on a country outing with female company the following Sunday. Schubert and Hannerl grow closer during the outing. Meanwhile, things are in a predicament at the Tschölls’ house: Andreas and Ferdinand, the future husbands of Hederl and Heiderl, have arrived unexpectedly, and the two women are nowhere to be found. The country outing, by contrast, is a merry affair: they eat, drink, and sing together. Hannerl decides to take piano lessons from Schubert. She negotiates with her father for more than adequate payment for the composer, knowing full well that he earns little. When she plays something for Schubert, he shows her how his music is meant to be played. He refuses to accept payment, though, for the pleasure of having her with him during the piano lessons. That evening, the celebrated Court Opera singer Vogl performs Schubert’s songs in public for the first time at the Esterházy Palace. Diabelli has arranged things so that Vogl’s accompanist is unable to attend, allowing Schubert to sit at the piano himself. After some back and forth, Vogl sings “An die Musik,” accompanied by Schubert. More of Schubert’s songs follow, including “The Trout.” The evening is a great success, and Vogl and Schubert shake hands in friendship. At the same time, there is music and singing at the Tschölls’ house as well. Christian Tschöll remarks on what a difference a single piano lesson can make when it is given by a genius. “Leise flehen meine Lieder” is Schubert’s new composition, which his friends find on his piano. They ask Franz von Schober to sing the song. They know it is difficult for him because he himself has strong feelings for Hannerl, and they remark on what a wonderful friend he is. Schubert comes in with tickets for himself and his friends to the dress rehearsal of Beethoven’s “Fidelio.” The friends are delighted. The rehearsal, however, turns into a fiasco because Beethoven, who is conducting himself, is now completely deaf. He has no choice but to hand the baton to his concertmaster. The friends feel deep sympathy for him, as they can imagine what this means to a musician like him. At the Tschölls’ house, Hederl and Heiderl’s wedding is celebrated. Christian Tschöll greets Schubert especially warmly and hints to the composer that his daughter Hannerl feels more for him than friendship. Schubert takes heart, but asks his friend Franz von Schober to sing Hannerl the love song he wrote especially for her. He cannot do it himself; he is far too nervous. Schober tries in vain to refuse. How could his friend know how difficult this request is for him? In the end, however, he brings himself to do as Schubert asks. “Dear Miss Hannerl, this song is meant to be more than an ordinary song. It is meant to speak to you and tell you what a heart feels for you.” Then he sings: “My heart is yours, and will remain so forever.” As soon as he finishes, Hannerl rushes not to Schubert but to von Schober, embracing and kissing him. Schubert is deeply hurt. Shortly afterward, the wedding is to take place, and Hannerl has asked Schubert to perform the love song in the church. Her sisters tell her what really happened back then: Schubert had actually written the song for her to confess his love, and now she is asking him to do this to her as well. The news weighs heavily on Hannerl. After the wedding celebration, Hannerl thanks Schubert for everything. He tells her that she is now his best friend’s wife, and that he wishes only the very best for him, just as he does for her. If she wants to make him very happy, she should forget everything and make his friend very happy. When she asks what will become of him, he replies that he has his music.