I havent included him in my top 10 pianist list, as im not a universal fan of his playing, but for schubert, he really is among the top references. I dont think its a coincidence that, of all the sonatas here, this is one that has been in his repertoire for decades now. He guides us through his interpretations of schubert s last three great piano sonatas. Schubert schubert s piano sonatas, 182228 125 schubert s last sonatas 143 a footnote on the playing of schubert s fourhand works 201 testing the grownup player. Alfred brendels elegant essay on the late sonatas of schubert nyr, february 2 contains many insights, but in one respect he is off the mark. This book has been cited by the following publications.
The last three piano sonatas by alfred brendel on amazon music. Tensile drive and continuity mark his assertive, starkly lit trajectory through the first movement, while. The last sonata, the profound and glorious b flat major, is represented four times in this collection, two of them live recordings. Alfred brendel music matters in a rare interview tom service talks to pianist alfred brendel, renowned interpreter of mozart, haydn, schubert and beethoven, about his life, career and new book.
In 1983 he performed a cycle of all of beethovens piano sonatas in new yorks carnegie hall. Revisiting the first of alfred brendel s several recorded versions of the schubert c minor sonata leads me to conclude that its his finest. Schuberts health was failing from a long battle with syphilis. Listen free to alfred brendel alfred brendel plays schubert schubert. The best of alfred brendel on youtube music the guardian.
Schubert s last sonata d960, whose first movement especially is played really beautifully and with no hint of mannerism by barenboim. His discography contains many albums and compilations of multiple. After one of my own performances of this wonderful, if strenuous, program, a viennese newspaper pronounced that even if i, as somebody who had turned his back on vienna, wanted to deny the fact. Needed it for book club to accompany a great book called sonata. Alfred brendels elegant essay on the late sonatas of schubert nyr. Brendel introduces schubert piano sonata in g major, d. The sad beauty in schuberts last sonatas the new york times. How alfred brendel makes perfect sense of classical music. I am hoping to find other gems in schubert s piano works, the relique one is looking good. Franz schubert piano sonata no 21 d 960 b flat major alfred brendel, piano 1. Schubert s last sonatas perhaps more than any other piano pieces sound completely different depending on who is playing them, even among artists of the highest technical proficiency. The third release to mark alfred brendel s 80th birthday, is a stunning reissue of alfred brendel s digital recordings of schubert s major piano works recorded between 198788.
Schubert piano sonata in c minor, d 958 first movement. Alfred brendel plays schubert piano sonatas d958, d959. Piano sonatas, d784, 840, 894, 959, 960 alfred brendel on allmusic 2005 of the volumes issued by philips in its artists. One of pianist alfred brendel s life long loves has been the music of schubert. The last three sonatas are really special to my heart and they accompany me, in time of despair, joy, frustration and etc. For me, ever since i listened to the b flat sonata in the early 80s, brendel is the pianist closest to the heart and soul of schubert. Including moments musicaux, impromptus and the wanderer fantasy, this second schubert cycle comes in a 7cd boxed set, displaying brendel s impressions of. Schuberts piano sonatas and the schoenberg piano concerto recognised. The program on saturday comprises the sonatas in c minor d. The wanderer fantasy is a treasure i chastised those people who dismissed the last three sonatas as longwinded and boring. Schubert conceived the sonatas as a set, and the notes make the case for a strong link with the winterreise songcycle that preceded them, not just for the thematic, rhythmic and harmonic links between the movements of each sonata, but also. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. The last three piano sonatas to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. He was only the second pianist to do so artur schnabel was the first.
Brendel, alfred, schuberts last sonatas, in music, sense and nonsense. Alfred brendel naarden international piano festival. But it would, i think, be misleading to allow his remarks about repeats in the classical repertory letters, nyr, march 16 to. Its not just any schubert, its the last three piano sonatas from his last year alive, written amongst an extraordinary outpouring of late, even lastminute masterpieces.
Franz schuberts last three piano sonatas, d 958, 959 and 960, are the composers last major compositions for solo piano. It was released on cd, together with his last solo recital by decca. Brendel, alfred, schubert s last sonatas, in music sounded out. In the last decade or so, however, he has put more flesh on his keyboard style. An exchange from the march 16, 1989 issue to the editors. Schuberts late music edited by lorraine byrne bodley. These three pieces belong to the visionary realms of schubert s last works for piano. Contexts for the interpretation of schubert s impromptus and last sonatas by charles fisk. Schubert final three sonatas played by alfred brendel. Frisch, walter, and alfred brendel, schuberts last sonatas. They were written during the last months of his life, between the spring and autumn of 1828, but were not published until about ten years after his death, in 183839. Franz schuberts last three piano sonatas, d 958, 959 and 960, are the composers last major.
A volume of collected essays, alfred brendel on music, came out in january 2001 to mark his 70th birthday. Brendel is an extremely intellectual pianist, and hes probably one of the key people who put schubert s piano music on the world stage. List of books and articles about franz schubert online. The last three sonatas by a dying schubert contain turbulence. Schubert conceived the sonatas as a set, and the notes make the case for a strong link with the winterreise songcycle that preceded them, not just for the thematic, rhythmic and harmonic links between the movements of each sonata, but also the idea that each piece is in some way inhabiting the persona of the lonely. Like the rest of schubert s piano sonatas, they were mostly neglected in the 19th century. Although he argues generally for scrupulous fidelity to schuberts compositional intentions, where they can be known, he seems somewhat disingenuous when it comes to the matter of observing the repeats that schubert included for the exposition or opening section in the. To my knowledge, artur schnabel and eduard erdmann were the first pianists to play schuberts last three sonatas in one evening.
S chubert s last three sonatas, which made up the latest of maurizio pollinis five london recitals this season, have a unity and are hewn from the same materials in ways that beethovens final. Alfred brendel studied piano and composition in zagreb and graz. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at last. Schuberts last sonatas from the february 2, 1989 issue to the editors. Brendel, a legendary interpreter of schubert and beethoven who has now. Schubert s symphonies are the final extension of the classical sonata forms, and three of themthe fifth, in b flat 1816. The pianist alfred brendel kbe born 5 january 1931 was a recording artist for more than half a century, from his first record of prokofievs piano concerto no. Alfred brendel s essays about beethoven, schubert, and many others are deeply relevant to performers and amateur listeners alike. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile. Schubert piano sonata no 21 d 960 b flat major alfred brendel. Schumanns kinderszenen 203 theme and variations schumann and beethoven 2 from mozart to brahms 216 liszt liszt misunderstood 219 liszt and the piano circus an. Schuberts last sonatas by alfred brendel the new york. The last three piano sonatas by alfred brendel now.
Alfred brendel has for years had the reputation of being a selfeffacing artist. Brendel played only schubert, and late schubert at that. The result was interesting, due there are a clear connection between schubert and schoenberg. Schubert composed his last three piano sonatas in the summer of 1828, a year that also saw the composition of the fantasia in fminor for four hands, the string quintet in c, the mass in eflat, and in his final days a sketch of a symphony in d. Franz schubert s last three piano sonatas, d 958, 959 and 960, are the composers last major compositions for solo piano. The last three piano sonatas alfred brendel on allmusic 1993. Alfred brendel plays schubert piano sonatas d958, d959, d960. To my knowledge, artur schnabel and eduard erdmann were the first pianists to play schubert s last three sonatas in one evening.
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