Schubert: Piano Sonatas, D575, 894, 959 & 960

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Schubert has long been a Brendel specialty and his 1970s Philips set of late Sonatas and shorter works ranks among the best. But Brendel's fans and Schubertians will still want this two-disc set, which offers the pianist's current views of the music. Recorded from concerts, the playing has the extra communicative flair often absent from the sterile atmosphere of the studio. The set includes Brendel's first recording of the lovely D. 575, perhaps the finest of the early Schubert Sonatas. While his playing here is well within the parameters of his earlier conception of these works, Brendel brings an extra dollop of expansiveness and tension that pays off in places, such as his slower introduction to the G Major Sonata and the sharpened contrast he gives the first two movements of the last and greatest of the works, the B-flat Major. No need to fear audience intrusions, either. They're quite minor, as Brendel concerts are famous for attracting intent listeners. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

Piano Sonata in G major D894: Molto moderato e cantabile - Arthur Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in G major D894: Andante - Arthur Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in G major D894: Menuetto: Allegro moderato - Arthur Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in G major D894: Allegretto - Arthur Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in B major D575: Allegro ma non troppo - Arthur Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in B major D575: Andante - Arthur Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in B major D575: Scherzo: Allegretto - Arthur Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in B major D575: Allegro giusto - Arthur Brendel - piano

Tracks:

Piano Sonata in A major D959: Allegro - Alfred Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in A major D959: Andantino - Alfred Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in A major D959: Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Alfred Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in A major D959: Rondo: Allegretto - Alfred Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in B flat major D960: Molto moderato - Alfred Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in B flat major D960: Andante sostenuto - Alfred Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in B flat major D960: Scherzo: Allegro vivace con delicatezza - Alfred Brendel - piano
Piano Sonata in B flat major D960: Allegro ma non troppo - Alfred Brendel - piano

Amazon.com

Schubert has long been a Brendel specialty and his 1970s Philips set of late Sonatas and shorter works ranks among the best. But Brendel's fans and Schubertians will still want this two-disc set, which offers the pianist's current views of the music. Recorded from concerts, the playing has the extra communicative flair often absent from the sterile atmosphere of the studio. The set includes Brendel's first recording of the lovely D. 575, perhaps the finest of the early Schubert Sonatas. While his playing here is well within the parameters of his earlier conception of these works, Brendel brings an extra dollop of expansiveness and tension that pays off in places, such as his slower introduction to the G Major Sonata and the sharpened contrast he gives the first two movements of the last and greatest of the works, the B-flat Major. No need to fear audience intrusions, either. They're quite minor, as Brendel concerts are famous for attracting intent listeners. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Brendel in concert.......2005-12-02

These performances of four Schubert sonatas are taken from live concerts by Alfred Brendel in England, the Netherlands and Germany. All four display the pianist's typical technical control and interpretive thoughtfulness, with an added intensity from the presence of an audience (though there is little if any intrusive noise). Perhaps the prize of this two-CD set is the G major Sonata D. 894; the rapt intensity of its long Molto Moderato first movement, the lyricism of the Andante, and the charm of the Minuetto and final Rondo have never been conveyed better in a superbly balanced performance. The other three sonatas, while of course excellently played, are not quite on this level; the first movement of the great posthumous A major D. 959 is exciting but lacks the magisterial poise of Brendel's studio rendition, while the accelerated coda of the Rondo finale somehow fails to whip up the requisite excitement of the long journey concluded. Brendel's Scherzo of the posthumous B-flat sonata D. 960 (Schubert's final piano work) catches the "delicatezza" of the tempo mark perfectly, but the finale is slightly untidy. Most interesting for Brendel fans is his only recording of the earlier B major Sonata D. 575, which remains a slightly disjointed effort from the composer despite many incidental charms and ravishing playing from the pianist in the slow movement. Still, this is a collection that will repay many listenings, in common with all of Brendel's work.

Brendel Is Still A Great Schubert Interpreter.......2001-07-20

These live performances are rich in tension and lyricism. Although they sound quite vibrant, they don't lack at all the richness in tone you'd expect from well-balanced studio recordings. Brendel's latest traversal of three of Schubert's sonatas is as refined as his classic recordings in the 1970's, yet there is a bit more warmth, if not exuberance, evidenced in these performances. And he plays just as warmly in his performance of the D575 sonata, which he hasn't recorded before. Long-time admirers of Alfred Brendel's exquisite playing will definitely want to add this superb 2 CD set to their collection.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Novelty Experience [Import]

Alain: Vocal And Instrumental Works, Vol. 2

Antonio Caldara: 12 Sinfonie a quattro

Retro: Active, Vol. 4 Rare and Remixed [Import]

Africa Remix [Import]

Aromatherapy: Relaxing [Import]

Ao Vivo, Vol. 2 [Live] [Import]

Afterglow

All Killer No Filler [Import]

Arcadia

A Table for Two

15 Exitos

Schumann: Kreisleriana; Sonata No. 1, Op. 11

Lost in a Moment