3 Things to Know About Ignaz Schuppanzigh’s Dismissal of Schubert’s Quartet

Ignaz Schuppanzigh was the leading string quartet player in early 19th-century Vienna. He dismissed a Schubert string quartet, reportedly saying, “Brother, this is nothing!”

Schuppanzigh’s criticism reflected the conservative tastes of the era. His quartet specialized in classical works by Haydn, Mozart, and early Beethoven, not Schubert’s more experimental style.

Schubert’s quartet later became celebrated as a masterpiece. Schuppanzigh’s judgment was wrong—the piece is now considered a significant work in the string quartet repertoire.