Our own BAL: Schubert Piano Sonata in Bb, D960

[Peter Katin]

How many pianists observe the first movement repeat? Brendel doesn't and as far as I remember Curzon didn't, although I haven't heard that recording for many years. I far prefer the repeat to be included.

I don't know why it's sometimes excluded - especially when Curzon played it. At some time these repeats were usually ignored and I must admit that when I learned the B flat I didn't play the repeat either. I was surprised, later, how obvious it was. I'm playing it this season and will certainly include the repeat.

[aeolium]

And hasn't Brendel gone on record (so to speak!) defending his decision to skip the repeat? Thank-you, I prefer the repeat also.

I seem to recall that there was a debate (in print) about that subject, with Brendel defending the omission and Andras Schiff supporting the inclusion of the repeat. I thought Schiff was the more convincing, not least because the additional linking music for the repeat is actually in the score. Of those playing the repeat I particularly like Lupu's recording, but I love the Curzon (repeat omitted) also. I was slightly disappointed by Paul Lewis' recording compared with his wonderful live performance of the work shortly before the recording came out.

[Barbirollians]

Kovacevich EMI for me but I would not wish to be without Brendel Perahia and Leon Fleischer in his comeback recording .

[MickyD]

Hi Vinteuil,

Staier's D960 was issued in a double CD from Teldec under the title "The Late Piano Sonatas", and it came with D958, and D959. A separate disc came out with D845 and D946 - maybe what you have is a compilation disc issued later? As Bryn says, the original disc is hard to find, so I guess I must hang onto mine for dear life! I'm curious to hear the Vermeulen, basically because you have given his discs such glowing reviews - oh dear, so many discs, such limited funds!

[Keybawd]

Lupu and Curzon for me. I also have much enjoyed the recording FouTsong made back in the 60s (not the more recent one). I don't think anyone since has made the Scherzo sparkle quite so wonderfully. Sadly, the LP got lost in a house move.

[salymap]

Thank you for this thread, I shall play D960 later as an antidote to all Christmas music. I have Brendel, Uchida and Lupu like lots ofyou and think last time I played them Brendel was slightly ahead, even if there was no repeat.

[Tony Halstead]

On the Swiss 'Claves' label Jörg Ewald Dähler plays it, beautifully, on a rich-toned Viennese 1820 fortepiano by Franz Brodmann.

[Franzl01]

Having moved abroad from the UK my collection is in major disarray, but I have memories of a spellbinding performance by Clara Haskil on a 'promotional' disc from Philips at a Lucerne Festival. There was also a really echt-Viennese one by Heinz Medjimorec in a BBC broadcast sometime in the 70s, I believe.
I concur with the general view that this work is something special, and give me the repeat, please!

Feliz Natal

[amateur51]

And hasn't Brendel gone on record (so to speak!) defending his decision to skip the repeat? Thank-you, I prefer the repeat also.

In his essay Schubert's piano sonatas 1822-1828 (Musical Thoughts And Afterthoughts, Robson Books, 1976) Alfred Brendel writes:

'The player at home may happily indulge in repeating the exposition of a Schubert sonata a dozen times for his private pleasure. In the concert hall he will be wise to consider that the perceptions of the audience, as well as his own concentration, should not be overtaxed.

That repeats are inevitably a matter of proportion is nothing more than a fashionable belief. Nor does it always follow from the inclusion of new material in those bars which especially lead back to the beginning that the composer counted on the execution of the repeat. In the case of the B flat Sonata, which is the most frequently lamented example, I am particularly happy to miss those bars, so utterly unconnected is their jerky outburst to the entire movement's logic and atmosphere.'

[Steerpike]

Does anyone know - is my Hatto D960 echt Hatto and, if not, who it is?

My most loved D960 was on open reel tape, I haven't had the equipment to play them for years - it was Edith Vogel, probably from a broadcast. Does anyone else remember her?

[gurnemanz]

I also used record reel-to-reel off the radio many years ago and have fond memories of a recording of Edith Vogel and James Gibb playing the Schubert Grand Duo.

[salymap]

Recorded music is certainly more portable these days. Composers used to leave us huge reel to reel tapes of their music for promotion purposes. Are they still in the basement at BH? Perhaps the Beeb could look, they might find a 'new work' by one of the greats!

[amateur51]

Does anyone know - is my Hatto D960 echt Hatto and, if not, who it is?

My most loved D960 was on open reel tape, I haven't had the equipment to play them for years - it was Edith Vogel, probably from a broadcast. Does anyone else remember her?

Many years ago, the BBCMM covermount CD was a 'live' recording of Edith Vogel playing Beethoven's Hammerklavier sonata. If you see a copy, grab it - it's a wonderful performance.

If you've already got it, grab it anyway and give it to a friend

[Pianorak]

. . . If you've already got it, grab it anyway and give it to a friend

Yep, wonderful performance teamed up with Op. 111. Give it to a friend?

[Basil]

Many years ago, the BBCMM covermount CD was a 'live' recording of Edith Vogel playing Beethoven's Hammerklavier sonata. If you see a copy, grab it - it's a wonderful performance.

If you've already got it, grab it anyway and give it to a friend

If you have this CD, Volume 2 No.7 of the BBCMM cover discs, rip it onto a computer asap, as it is one of the infamous PDO discs, prone to corrosion.

Reminded by this thread that I have this disc, I just tried and only the Op.106 is still intact, the Op.111 has gone...rats!