BaL 24.03.12 - Schubert's Piano Sonata in C minor, D.958

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 Building a Library: Harriet Smith with a personal recommendation from recordings of Schubert's Piano Sonata in C minor, D.958

Available versions:-

Leif Ove Andsnes
Paul Badura-Skoda
Paul Berkowitz
Malcolm Bilson (fortepiano)
Alfred Brendel (2/3 CD versions)
Alfred Brendel (DVD)
Philippe Cassard
Imogen Cooper
Meira Farkas
Anja German
Anthony Goldstone
Wilhelm Kempff
Walter Klien
Sebastian Knauer
Jeno Jando
Jin Ju
Elisabeth Leonskaja
Paul Lewis
Radu Lupu
Alan Marks
John Ogdon
Gülsin Onay
Murray Perahia
Maurizio Pollini
Sviatoslav Richter – 2 versions
Daniel Rohm
Andras Schiff
Craig Sheppard
Mitsuko Uchida
Christoph Ullrich
Jan Vermeulen
Christian Zacharias
Dieter Zechlin

[Don Petter]

No contest for me (though I obviously haven't heard many of the above) - Brendel's second (first on Philips, analogue) version.*

We've just been listening again to the 5CD set of his Schubert from this period in the car. Pure magic, and including several 'back of the neck' moments. We've left them in and are going round again with undiminished pleasure.

* His first, Vanguard, version was available in a Brilliant 6CD box called 'The Brendel Collection'. (Still available from at least one on-line supplier in Ireland, I see, for €12.99. So perhaps could be in EA's list?)

[vinteuil]

I like both Paul Badura-Skoda and Andreas Staier here (I hope they are still available?) - but prefer Jan Vermeulen, and, particularly, Malcolm Bilson.

[NigelD]

Really looking forward to this one!

I love Radu Lupu's playing in Schubert

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radu-Lupu-plays-Schubert/dp/B000BVEKKE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1331897250&sr=1-1

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I love Radu Lupu's playing in Schubert

... terrific bargain, this box!

[HighlandDougie]

Or for not very much more (and you get his peerless Schumann as well)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radu-Lupu-The-Solo-Recordings/dp/B0038Q3UKA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1331931994&sr=1-1

A box much spun

[EdgeleyRob]

Really looking forward to this one!

I love Radu Lupu's playing in Schubert

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radu-Lupu-pl...1897250&sr=1-1

Yes that's the one for me too. I love this sonata almost as much as the D959 and D960 but it seems to be treated as the poor relation to those two!

[Bryn]

... terrific bargain, this box!

The most attractive price appears to be at play.com:

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/-/1144704/-/Product.html?source=9593&_$ja=tsid:11853|prd:10256 3&awc=1418_1331938825_8bf4277f9e4b3afc41392568b2ed a490

[silvestrione]

No contest for me (though I obviously haven't heard many of the above) - Brendel's second (first on Philips, analogue) version.*

We've just been listening again to the 5CD set of his Schubert from this period in the car. Pure magic, and including several 'back of the neck' moments. We've left them in and are going round again with undiminished pleasure.

* His first, Vanguard, version was available in a Brilliant 6CD box called 'The Brendel Collection'. (Still available from at least one on-line supplier in Ireland, I see, for €12.99. So perhaps could be in EA's list?)

In this sonata, I actually do prefer the digital Brendel, because I react strongly against his slowing down for the second subject in the first movement, in the earlier performance.
By the way, is this 5 disc set you mention still available, do you know, Don?

[BBMmk2]

That Radu lupu set looks great! Too good to be true!

[Don Petter]

In this sonata, I actually do prefer the digital Brendel, because I react strongly against his slowing down for the second subject in the first movement, in the earlier performance.
By the way, is this 5 disc set you mention still available, do you know, Don?

It was part of the 25CD set 'The Art of Alfred Brendel' (Philips 446 920-2PM25) issued for his 65th birthday in 1996. (I see one copy is available from an Amazon vendor for £529!)

The individual volumes were available separately, and Volume 3 was the 5CD set of Schubert (446 923-2PM5). Long out of print as such, I should think (though much of the content is probably still around on twofers, etc.).

However, I see there are four used examples from Amazon vendors, two of them at £20, which I would say is a bargain for the 5 CDs if you don't have them.

The works included are:

Sonata D537
Sonata D664
Sonata D784
16 German Dances D783
Sonata D840
Sonata D845
Wanderer Fantasy D760
Sonata D850
Sonata D894
Allegretto D915
Sonata D958
Sonata D959
12 German Dances D790
Sonata D960
11 Ecossaises D781
Hungarian Melody D817
6 Moments Musicaux D780

Hope this may be of interest.

[JFLL]

We've just been listening again to the 5CD set of his Schubert from this period in the car. Pure magic, and including several 'back of the neck' moments. We've left them in and are going round again with undiminished pleasure.

Am I right in thinking that the 1970s/1980s Philips analogue recordings are available (digitally remastered, of course) on a 7-disc set called (for some reason only in German) 'Brendel spielt Schubert', brought out on the Decca Eloquence label a few years ago? I was thinking of buying this, as I was brought up on these versions and they've somehow got under my skin. Do you think the remastering would spoil the sound? (I'm revealing my appalling ignorance of technical matters here!)

[Don Petter]

Am I right in thinking that the 1970s/1980s Philips analogue recordings are available (digitally remastered, of course) on a 7-disc set called (for some reason only in German) 'Brendel spielt Schubert', brought out on the Decca Eloquence label a few years ago? I was thinking of buying this, as I was brought up on these versions and they've somehow got under my skin. Do you think the remastering would spoil the sound? (I'm revealing my appalling ignorance of technical matters here!)

I've just looked up this Eloquence set. It is, indeed, of the same analogue recordings, though 'newly remastered'. (Hopefully for the better, but I always thought the Philips sound of that period was pretty good anyway!)

Amazon is offering it for £38.

The works you get in addition to those on 'my' 5CD set seem to be:

Sonata D575
3 Pieces D946
Impromptus D899
Impromptus D935

True these Impromptus are also essential to have if you are in tune with Brendel's Schubert of this period, but bear in mind that you could get them on a Duo for about £6, so perhaps £38 seems less attractive if you can get the 5CD set for about £20 and don't particularly want the remastering. You would lose the D575 sonata, though.

Do report back how you find their return to the fold if you do plump for one of the boxes.

[JFLL]

Thanks for the information, Don. Actually I'm seeing a price of £22.86 on Amazon here, so I'll probably go for it. I'll still be going back to my Vox vinyls of the Impromptus, Moments Musicaux and Klavierstücke, and the splendid F Minor Fantasia with Evelyn Crochet, though.

[Don Petter]

Thanks for the information, Don. Actually I'm seeing a price of £22.86 on Amazon here, so I'll probably go for it. I'll still be going back to my Vox vinyls of the Impromptus, Moments Musicaux and Klavierstücke, and the splendid F Minor Fantasia with Evelyn Crochet, though.

The vagaries of Amazon! (Here was my URL for £38:http://www.amazon.co.uk/BRENDEL-PLAY...016181&sr=1-11)

Sounds great for £22.86 - Go for it.

It will be interesting to see how the Impromptus compare with the earlier Vox ones. The Philips ones are in my category of 'Don't play too often, in case the performances become too familiar'. One or two of them give me the shivers (in the best way).