Schubert Piano Sonatas

[Guy Berger]

I'm interested in picking up a collection of Schubert's late piano sonatas. The priorities (judging by what I've read) are the last three: 958, 959, 960. But I'm also interested in the earlier "late sonatas" (784 onward), the Moments Musicaux (sp?), the Impromptus and the Wanderer Fantasy.

The best bet at this point seems to be Brendel's Philips Duo containing 958-960 , but I'm open to any other suggestions.

Guy

[Chuck Nessa]

While the last 3 sonatas are justly revered, do not neglect the rest. A good/inexpensive way to experience them is a complete cycle by Walter Klien on Vox. You should be able to find them (3 doubles) for under $30.

[J.A.W.]

My favorites:

Alfred Brendel - D958, 959, 960 - 2CD, Philips (from the earlier Philips cycle)

Alfred Brendel - Impromptus - Philips (from earlier cycle)

Alfred Brendel - D575, 894, 959 and 960 - 2CD, Philips 456573 (BBC live recording)

Alfred Brendel - second complete Philips cycle (sonatas, impromptus, moments musicaux, deutsche Tänze, Wanderer Fantasie, etc.) - Philips

Imogen Cooper - complete cycle - Ottavo

Radu Lupu - D845 and 894 - Decca

Radu Lupu - Moments musicaux, D780; sonata D958 - Decca

Radu Lupu - Impromptus - Decca Legends

Murray Perahia - D958, 959 and 960 - 2CD, Columbia

Murray Perahia - Impromptus D899 and 935 - Columbia

Maria João Pires - Le voyage magnifique - Impromptus; etc - 2CD, DG

Edited November 12, 2004 by J.A.W.

[Spontooneous]

The Brendel double is a real good starting place. I wore out the LP of 960.

There's a wonderful 960 by Lupu on London/Decca.

78-rpm surface noise and all, EVERYBODY should hear Artur Schnabel's recording of this piece.

[Chuck Nessa]

The Brendel double is a real good starting place. I wore out the LP of 960.

There's a wonderful 960 by Lupu on London/Decca.

78-rpm surface noise and all, EVERYBODY should hear Artur Schnabel's recording of this piece.

I've been trying to stay away from comparisons, but you have opened the door - or I got tired of "containing".

The Schnabel might be played at my funeral. Nothing else is close.

I find all post '60s Brendel "mannered" and it drives me nuts. (Yup, blame Brendel).

Lupu doesn't even register on my radar.

[michel devos]

Although Murray Perahia and Maria Joao Pires rank very high on my Schubert list, it would be a mistake to forget Wilhelm Kempff on DG....Very moving playing here.Also check availability of Richter for sonata D 664 and the Wanderer Fantasie : the sonata playing is absolutely incredible, especially the adagio.Lots of fire on the Fantasy

Christoph Eschenbach is very good on D959-960, as well as Maria Joao for D894

But these are just personal suggestions according to my taste...all of these works are gems by themselves

I made a live recording of Kemff in 1975, playing a full Schubert program : listening these tapes almost 30 years later show how right he was to concentrate on the works of Schubert at the end of his life : nothing sounded more appropriate for his technique and the produced sounds were just magnificent .Happy times...

[Chuck Nessa]

Michel is obviously a close listener but i have to admit ditching Kempff a long time ago-- ooof. i think that Schumann box should be permantly withdrawn bc i'm STILL recovering, what a load.

I too am allergic to Kempff's Schumann but he is much better in Schubert.

[Larry Kart]

Heartily endorse Clementine's suggestion to look at Berkshire for Richter's Schubert on Regis. I have three of those discs, and it's deep (sometimes very strange but deep) stuff. He may not turn out to be your taste, but he should be heard, because if he is for you, you can't live with him. Also agree about Kempff -- the definition of ehat the Brits call "po-faced." If you want things without the standard rhetorical gestures underlined, try Pollini, whose choices seem to spring from intense, austure (perhaps a bit puritanical) conviction, but Kempff sounds like he's sightreading on Valium.

[Chuck Nessa]

Pollini gives me hives.

[Larry Kart]

Sorry -- I meant to say that Richter's Schubert should be heard, because if he is for you, you can't live WITHOUT him.

From what I'd been told about Pollini's Schubert, I thought I'd hate it/be bored by it. But while there are times when it seems a bit like he's delivering an essay about Schubert, it sure doesn't strike me as a boring one.

[Bright Moments]

i am enjoying this one atm:

Radu Lupu - Impromptus - Decca Legends

(jim please move this to the classical forum!)