Schubert: Late Sonatas & Impromptus [Import]

Track Listings

1. 1-4 Piano Sonata In C Minor, D958

2. 5-8 Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, D960

3. 1-4 Piano Sonata In A Major, D959

4. 5-8 Four Impromptus, D899

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Schubert’s Last Three Piano Sonatas (D958–960) Are his Crowning Achievement in the Form and Are the Logical and Worthy Successor to Beethoven’s Last Three Sonatas. Many Pianists Only Tackle These Three Monumental Works after Many Years of Study and Experience, and it was in the Later Part of his Career that the Great Chilean Pianist Claudio Arrau Chose to Record Them. 2003 also Marks the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Arrau, an Artist who was Associated with Philips from the 1960s Until Just a Few Months Before his Death in 1991.

Tracks:

1-4 Piano Sonata In C Minor, D958
5-8 Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, D960
1-4 Piano Sonata In A Major, D959
5-8 Four Impromptus, D899

Album Details

Schubert's Last Three Piano Sonatas (D958-960) Are his Crowning Achievement in the Form and Are the Logical and Worthy Successor to Beethoven's Last Three Sonatas. Many Pianists Only Tackle These Three Monumental Works after Many Years of Study and Experience, and it was in the Later Part of his Career that the Great Chilean Pianist Claudio Arrau Chose to Record Them. 2003 also Marks the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Arrau, an Artist who was Associated with Philips from the 1960s Until Just a Few Months Before his Death in 1991.

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Schubert: Late Piano Sonatas

Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000F1CB
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Tracks:

Pno Son No.19 In c, D958: I-Allegro
Pno Son No.19 In c, D958: II-Adagio
Pno Son No.19 In c, D958: III-Menuetto. Allegro
Pno Son No.19 In c, D958: IV-Allegro
Pno Son No.20 In A, D959: I-Allegro
Pno Son No.20 In A, D959: II-Andantino

Tracks:

Pno Son No.20 In A, D959: III-Scherzo. Allegro Vivace
Pno Son No.20 In A, D959: IV-Rondo. Allegretto
Pno Son No.21 In B-flat, D960: I-Molto Moderato
Pno Son No.21 In B-flat, D960: II-Andante Sostenuto
Pno Son No.21 In B-flat, D960: III-Scherzo. Allegro Vivace Con Delicatezza
Pno Son No.21 In B-flat, D960: IV-Allegro Ma Non Troppo

Amazon.com

If you know your late Schubert piano sonatas, you can tell right away that there is something unusual about this set just by looking at the timings on the back of the box. No. 20 is split between the two discs, which is necessary because the set runs to almost 150 minutes. Reading Afanassiev's bizarre program notes, which frequently refer to his own literary works, further prepares you for these outrageous performances, in which nearly every movement is played more slowly than you've ever heard before. Afanassiev obviously has his own viewpoint on Schubert's music, which seems to be that it is neurotically introspective and that the lyrical qualities don't count for much. Few listeners will agree. --Leslie Gerber