BaL 28.02.14 - Schubert: Piano Sonata no 20 in A D959

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've plumped for the later version, as it appears to be correct on the balance of probabilities. Besides, editing the dual list was too complicated.

[Nick Armstrong]

I like Pollini, too, but I've never really thought of this last movement as terrifying etc. Despite darker episodes, I've always thought the final movement was largely consoling in tone........unlike the finale of D958.

(Are you definitely thinking of the final movement? )

Yes - that sweet melody in the final movement burbles along happily and I agree is consolatory.... but then there are whole bar pauses... later on, cutting off the ends of phrases e.g. several pauses after about 37:25...

It always strikes me (esp when Pollini is playing) like a summer stroll and suddenly and chillingly you're at a cliff edge - one step more and you're in the abyss. And then another. Or like pleasant daydreams interrupted by thoughts of....



...



...

[Don Petter]

I hope Alpie won't have to re type for D. 959.
For the earlier Sonata my favorite is Kempff, and for D959 it's Brendel .

Which Brendel? There are two studio recordings, analogue from the 1970s and digital from the 1980s. (My choice for the work would be the former.)

EA hasn't mentioned this in his list. Also there are two Brendel DVDs, one from 1976/7 (Medici Arts) for Radio Bremen and another in 1988 (Philips), though the latter may not be currently available, except on the second-hand market.

Others not on the list include Kovacevich on EMI and Serkin on Sony (currently download only, it would seem).

[waldo]

It always strikes me (esp when Pollini is playing) like a summer stroll and suddenly and chillingly you're at a cliff edge - one step more and you're in the abyss. And then another. Or like pleasant daydreams interrupted by thoughts of.......

Yes, I can see that, though I tend to think of it as pointing more in the direction of sadness than terror. All very personal, of course. It is a superb finale, anyway - possibly his greatest for the piano. I am not always convinced by his last movements: too little material being stretched just a little too far. ("What can you do with a great melody, apart from play it again?" Or something like that.) But this ending - D959 - holds up very well.

[BBMmk2]

I do rather like Schubert's later piano sonatas, so I be interested very much, and to get to know them better.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When I thought it was going to be D664, I felt in my comfort zone. However, now I've set myself the target of learning to play D959 before the broadcast. (Plenty of time to practise now. )

[richardfinegold]

Which Brendel? There are two studio recordings, analogue from the 1970s and digital from the 1980s. (My choice for the work would be the former.)

EA hasn't mentioned this in his list. Also there are two Brendel DVDs, one from 1976/7 (Medici Arts) for Radio Bremen and another in 1988 (Philips), though the latter may not be currently available, except on the second-hand market.

Others not on the list include Kovacevich on EMI and Serkin on Sony (currently download only, it would seem).

The set I own is a Phillips "twofer' of the last 3 Sonatas, and some shorter pieces. I believe the recordings stem from the 70s, although they are astoninishingly good, perhaps the most realistically captured Piano sound that I have ever heard. I don't have the other Brendel recordings, but I do have recordings by Walter Klien, Andraas Schiff, and Mitsuko Uchida, and Kempff Schiff can be dismissed first; I found his Schubert to be a major dissapointment (I love his Bach and also admire his Beethoven). Kempff gets the slow movements of the last 3 Sonatas but I think his technique isn't up to the more demanding parts of the last 3 works; in the earlier Sonatas he is King. Klien is interesting but has some questionable tempos and use of rubato and can also underplay the big moments of the last 3 Sontatas. Uchida is very good but comes off a bit to clinical and detached to be a first recommendation
Of those,

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Confirmation from Andrew McGregor: it's definitely to be D959.

[Roehre]

Confirmation from Andrew McGregor: it's definitely to be D959.

My elitist approach to add opus numbers or other identifiers to work titles definitely would have been helpful here

[Don Petter]

The set I own is a Phillips "twofer' of the last 3 Sonatas, and some shorter pieces. I believe the recordings stem from the 70s, although they are astoninishingly good, perhaps the most realistically captured Piano sound that I have ever heard.

Uchida is very good but comes off a bit too clinical and detached to be a first recommendation
Of those,

I hope you weren't struck down in mid-sentence.

I confirm that we are both attached to the same Brendel performance.

[Nick Armstrong]

I hope you weren't struck down in mid-sentence.

yes... richard went a bit 'Art of Fugue' there...

richard? richard??

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

yes... richard went a bit 'Art of Fugue' there...

richard? richard??

Different time zone?

[Nick Armstrong]

Different time zone?

They were rhetorical, EA!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

yes... richard went a bit 'Art of Fugue' there...

- or, perhaps, a Reliquie?

richard? richard??

I don't think there's anything untoward - rfg made another posting immediately after this enigmatic start/close.

[Don Petter]

Always leave 'em wanting more ...