Schubert piano sonatas recommendations?

[Д.Д.]

Have Svyatoslav Richter's concert recordings of a couple (D960, D575), enjoy them a lot. That's about my only exposure to Schubert piano sonatas. Any other recommendations? I am not necessarily looking for a complete cycle.

[J.A.W.]

Richter is indeed excellent. Imogen Cooper recorded the later sonatas twice. Her first cycle is very good, haven't heard the second one. Radu Lupu is good too in my opinion, and so is Alfred Brendel, who recorded the later sonatas at least twice; his playing is an acquired taste, though, many people hate his interpretations.

Edited November 24, 2013 by J.A.W.

[king ubu]

I've bought the Radu Lupu box a few months ago ... have never systematically started exploring it, but must have played at least half of it ... excellent, I'd say! His recordings of the two sets of Impromptus is included as well and is wonderful.

Other than that, inevitably: Schnabel! His D 960 is one of those life-changing experiences to be gained from music - in my book at least.

There are also two that Jorge Bolet recorded (D 959 and D 784), available on a Decca CD (or as part of the dirt-cheap box set, wish that had been around when I searched for Bolet recordings).

There's also a recent reissue on Arcana of Paul Badura-Skoda's complete recording on period instruments (rec. early/mid 90s). I bought it, but have not listened to any of it yet, so can't say anything.

[mikeweil]

Badura-Skoda plays very nice vintage pianos and has that genuine Viennese feeling, but there are other pianists playing more accurately. Staier is a bit cool at times.

If you would go with single discs I would recommed Immerseel, his one disc on a small Dutch label is desert island stuff, but I just noticed the label's website gone and it is not even listed on amazon ...

There are very moving discs by the late Nikolaus Lahusen, they are very personal as he died shortly after their release at a rather young age:

[king ubu]

Not that much of a fan of the one Staier disc I've got:

It's very much okay to hear another approach, but it doesn't reach the heights some of the old guys do ... at least that is my perception.

Guess I should try Lahusen, too.

[Late]

Mitsuko Uchida's cycle on Philips gets a lot of rave reviews. I own it; the recorded sound is stunning, but the playing, at least so far in my listening, leaves me a little cold. Maybe I'll change my mind (I hope so) with continued listening. Right now, I prefer Kempff (as far as cycles go) on DG. Kempff's playing might be more polite (maybe some would say "poetic") than "intellectual," but there's also a sense of effortless grace and forward motion. Maybe it's just that I seem to like my Schubert not-too-heavy. Regardless, I would recommend the Kempff box as a good starting point to explore Schubert's sonatas. I'm still very much "learning" them.

Richter, of course, has a special way with Schubert. The various titles on Olympia/Regis/Alto are worth picking up.

[J.A.W.]

Forgot to mention Clifford Curzon, although he recorded only a couple of sonatas. His recordings of the Impromptus and Moments musicaux are magical. One of the great but underrated pianists of the 20^th Century in my view.

Edited November 24, 2013 by J.A.W.

[John Litweiler]

Stephen Kovacevich playing D. 959 and D.960 are favorites.

[David Ayers]

Quite interested in these recs. I am not so enamoured of piano repertoire. I know the Schubert mainly through Uchida but never really learned to love those recordings so am always happy to try others. Although...I have heard quite a few others....

[soulpope]

Some personal favourites (beneath the already mentioned Richter and Lupu)

Austrian pianist Gilbert Schuchter - more or less complete Schubert (Tudor, unfortunately out of print)

Rafael Oroszco 960 (Auvidis Valois, out of print)

Rudolf Serkin 840, 859 and 960 (Sony)

and as a real "dark horse",

Karl Betz performs an excellent D960 (Christophorus) and some marvellous "Ländler" (Koch Schwann)

..........

actually did I mention Fritz Gulda ;-)) ?!?!?!

[Larry Kart]

On a selective basis, and as different as they are, I like Richter and Pollini.

[Peter Friedman]

On a selective basis, and as different as they are, I like Richter and Pollini.

I agree with the two Larry just mentioned, and also like Kempff.

[porcy62]

Count me on the Kempff camp.

[Kyo]

I've been eyeing this set, any comments?

[Late]

Count me on the Kempff camp.

That would be the "Kempff Campff."

[king ubu]

Can't really imagine Kempff doing Schubert ... not able to say why, but I can't see his style being fitting too well (and that's not against Kempff at all, I've got a variety of recordings of his, solo, concertos, also some chamber, and love most of them).

[J.A.W.]

Can't really imagine Kempff doing Schubert ... not able to say why, but I can't see his style being fitting too well (and that's not against Kempff at all, I've got a variety of recordings of his, solo, concertos, also some chamber, and love most of them).

Kempff's Schubert got some very mixed reviews here. He's not the most likely Schubert interpreter to my ears either.

Edited November 29, 2013 by J.A.W.

[king ubu]

I've recently enjoyed a lot what Schubert there is in the big Decca box by Clifford Curzon though! That's some heavy stuff there ... but it comes from a rather different place than Kempff, I think (more like the Schnabel line, if I dare mention that name again).

[J.A.W.]

I've recently enjoyed a lot what Schubert there is in the big Decca box by Clifford Curzon though! That's some heavy stuff there ... but it comes from a rather different place than Kempff, I think (more like the Schnabel line, if I dare mention that name again).

That Curzon box is a gem, even though not everything in it is my cup of tea. He's one of my all-time favourite pianists.

[king ubu]

Guess I'm right on the way to there! Started with the solo materials (still haven't played the Liszt disc and that rarities disc and the DVD), but the Schubert (and also the Schumann, not much, alas) is great!

[David Ayers]

Took a stab at Kempff on Schubert, not for the first time. Less my cup of tea than ever.

[porcy62]

I have the Brendel's too, and I still prefer Kempff on most of them.

[bogdan101]

Afanassiev playing D. 960 on ECM should not be missed. And then there is Schnabel.

Edited December 15, 2013 by bogdan101