Schubert

[Bryn]

That Mackerras double CD is highly recommendable, Anna, as is Brendel in Schubert. Don't fail to get recordings of 'The Trout' quintet and the String Quintet D956. Most of all, get the final piano sonata, D960. I would suggest avoiding Uchida in Schubert, as in Mozart. There is a recording of D960 by Gulda (who rarely played Schubert) which I am particularly fond of. Unfortunately the going rate for the 4 disc set it comes in has risen to upwards of £45 since I got it last year.

[Donnie Essen]

Which Trout Quintet does one recommend?

I gotta say, my trip to physical CD stores wasn't good for Winterreise. I wanted the famous D-F-D ones, which seem to be pretty cheap. They had none at all, just lots of expensive recent recordings. I suppose it's good to champion new folk, but often really I want to hear the classic recordings if I'm new to a work.

[Basil]

I would suggest avoiding Uchida in Schubert.

But always listen and make up your own mind.

For the 8th and 9th symphonies, these take some beating.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schubert-Symphonies-Vienna-Philharmonic-Orchestra/dp/B0000042G0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1294671509&sr=1-3

My favourite 'Trout' would have to be by the Nash Ensemble, closely followed by Alfred Brendel with the Cleveland Quartet.

[vinteuil]

There is a very interesting interview in The Guardian today about Paul Lewis, the pianist, and why we should all listen to Schubert. As someone who has never listened to Schubert I wonder if you would agree with his reasoning and if so, which pieces in particular?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jan/09/paul-lewis-piano-schubert-interview

Edit: If I have put this on the wrong Board can frenchie move it?

Anna - you say you are a Symphony gel ... Well, the Schubert Symphonies are. of course, interesting - but it seems to me that if you are looking for those really spine-tingling moments that make Schubert 'necessary' rather than just 'interesting' - well, I would go for some of the piano duets (eg the F minor Fantasia), the string quintet (and some of the quartets), the piano works - impromptus, moments musicaux, sonatas, and - despite your prejudices/reservations - the lieder - Schöne Müllerin, Winterreise, Schwanengesang for starters... There are so many marvellous performances of all these works that it wd be invidious to make recommendations...

There's a whole wonderful world there waiting for you!

[salymap]

For Schubert symphony 5 it must be Beecham for me. Grew up with it, live sometimes.

[Bryn]

Schubert's 5th always triggers memory's of the extracts from a performance of Cage's Variations IV in my mind. Snippets of the 5th featured prominently.



Check out the sample of "Excerpts 7pm To 8pm" at Amazon.com's listing for that CD.

[Ferretfancy]

salymap,

Absolutely! He's a bit slow, but who cares? Gold dust at the tip of a baton.
The same goes for that lovely old recording of The Trout with Curzon and members of the Vienna Octet, I'd never part with it.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

..from the instant this movement started in Barry Lyndon [masterpiece of a movie seen in 1976] this music by these performers has been the definition for me of what heaven might feel like ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12xe2osfq1w

Franz Schubert : Piano Trio N° 2, D. 929 --- E flat
II. Andante con moto
Beaux Arts Trio