BaL 28.10.23 - Schubert Four Impromptus Op.142 (D935)

[Ein Heldenleben]

My view is that Perahia’s very earliest recordings are outstanding, when he was a hippy. Schumann DBT for example. He then became magisterial and the recordings became exactly that. Personally, I don’t want to hear magisters. I’m not at school.

And then there’s the paper cut incident and its repercussions. He plays sometimes as if he’s scared of hurting his fingers.

(Sorry, I’ve drunk too much wine with lunch - it’s brought the bitch out! )

interesting theory. I’m a big Perahia fan. If I have one criticism of the 1983 set . In his playing of the Aflat D.935 No. 2 the Eflat played by the thumb of the left hand in the opening chordal section is too prominent and really irritates me . Which is fairly amazing given how good he is generally at voicing.
interestingly he’s said plays the E flat impromptu from the earlier set every day and usually plays it as a final encore.
Having seen him lives several times I don’t think he enjoys live recitals and does quite a bit of “preparation” around tricky chordal playing. His scale and arpeggio playing are pretty much peerless - just about the best touch I’ve ever heard.

[visualnickmos]

Honestly, Lupu is just fabulous with these impromptus! Top of the pile for me.

Quite so! 100%

[smittims]

Thanks, Gurnemanz. I have that set and of course you are right; I mis-remembered the American Schubert recordings as having been the 'Moments Musicaux'.

I too have a higher opinion of those Victor recordings than many have expressed, including the two Beethoven Sonatas.

[Mandryka]

Quite so! 100%

Glad you liked it.

He played the op 90 impromptus in the Leeds Piano Competition in 1969. It may be interesting to compare with the studio recording from 1983

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAm9Ysmz2Mo&t=408s&ab_channel=HelenandHermaninLawrence

[richardfinegold]

I finally got around to pulling Uchida’s record off the shelf and it’s great to be reminded of how great it is. The recording quality is excellent. Her balances are perfect and she has perfect blend of drama and lyricism

[Alison]

Winner difficult to call 11.02

[Goon525]

Winner difficult to call 11.02

I wouldn’t have thought so - as Iain Burnside says, Lupu has had his heart right from the start. A popular choice around here!

[Alison]

There was me thinking it could be Brendel who didn’t even get in the three!

[richardfinegold]

Who were the 3 finalists? I’m gathering Lupu was the choice

[visualnickmos]

Lyubimov sounds like it was recorded in a Victorian heavily tiled gents' public toilet.

[Alison]

Lupu, Lubimov, Perahia.

[Alison]

the complete set of Decca Lupu recordings looks an obvious purchase with hardly any of them in my collection.

[gurnemanz]

There was me thinking it could be Brendel who didn’t even get in the three!

And I don't think we were told which Brendel recording was played. The 1962 Vox was Sarah Walker's BaL first choice in 2003. Like me, many collectors will have the 1974 version which was on a much-recommended Philips Duo. He recorded them again in 1988 for Decca

I don't know any of the fortepiano versions but Gramophone recommended both Lambert Orkis on Virgin and Paul Badura-Skoda on Astrée above Lubimov.

[Keraulophone]

Steinway ... other brands are available and they don't all sound the same.

Other brands are available but not nearly so well marketed.

Becasue they are hand made, Steinway Ds don't all sound the same.
I recall Stephen Kovacevitch mentioning a preference for one of the Royal Festival Hall's Model D Steinways when making a particular recording.

I like to think that Schubert would have approved of his piano music being played on a Bösendorfer. The company was founded in Vienna one year after Op 142 had been written. Anyhow, Mrs K seems content with the sound of the G flat Op.90 when played on our little 170 - with the lid down (it's powerful).

FWIW, I have long treasured Lupu's Schubert despite the somewhat dated recording quality.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Sokolov played that A flat 2nd movement so beautifully. really making the melody sing and with perfect voicing unlike the thumb heavy Perahia. The Lubimov sounds too closely miked for me.
Question : is Brendel just a bit under- characteristiced ? Or as friend once put it boring ?