Accustomed to being ignored

Josef von Spaun recalled the following incident involving Franz Schubert at a concert. Schubert had just accompanied Baron Schönstein, at the house of Karolina Maria Kinsky (Princess, née Baroness Kerpen)

when everyone loudly acclaimed Schönstein for his performance while taking no notice of the composer who had accompanied him, the princess sought to make amends by warmly praising Schubert and requesting his indulgence for the behaviour of her guests — whereupon Schubert remarked that he was quite accustomed to being ignored and, in fact, rather liked it, since he then felt less embarrassed.

Cited in: Clive, Peter (1997) Schubert and His World. Oxford: Clarendon Press, p.96-97.

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