Schubert Sonatas D959 and D958

[Mandryka]

Has anyone heard Bolet's D784 and D959?

Lousy review in Gramaphone -- but I trust you guys more!

[Holden]

You have one of the best D959s in the Schnabel. He makes the most sense of this work, especially the slow movement. Brendel is also exceptional.

[Herman]

Looks like you're pretty much set. In addition to the Brendel there's another 'mainstream' 959 recording worth mentioning, and that's Perahia on CBS (coupled with Schumann's 2nd sonata). It's from the mid-eighties, and arguably the last recording of the young, passionate Perahia, before he morphed into the rather statesmanlike performer he's been since.

[George]

I have made some nice Schubert discoveries recently – the two sonatas by Haskil for example, and the three by Fiorentino. So I am  kind of curious if there is anything good that I am missing in D958 and D959.

Sokolov in D 959 is my favorite. I went through a few weeks where I tried every D 959 I could get my hands on, as Richter did not record this one and he's my favorite usually for the Schubert piano sonatas. Sokolov was the most Richter-like. I also like the live Brendel on Philips a lot. Is that the one you were referring to, Holden? 

[nut-job]

Pollini made a very fine recording of this pair, although the D960 that accompany them does not impress me, partly because they were made with a different producer and the audio engineering is less satisfying.

[Todd]

In no particular order:

959 - Brendel ('80s); Perahia ('80s); Kempff; Kovacevich; Pollini

958 - Richter (can't remember date); Andsnes; Kempff; Pollini; Zacharias

[Mandryka]

Thanks for all these replies.

A browse through the Arkivmusik database reveals some interesting sounding CDs:

958 -- John Ogdon, Walter Klein
959 -- Bolet, Rudilf Serkin, Annie Fischer

Has anyone tried any of these? And (off topic really) has anyone tried Annie Fischer's D960?

Sokolov in D 959 is my favorite. I went through a few weeks where I tried every D 959 I could get my hands on, as Richter did not record this one and he's my favorite usually for the Schubert piano sonatas. Sokolov was the most Richter-like. I also like the live Brendel on Philips a lot. Is that the one you were referring to, Holden? 

I assume that the Brendel Holden refers to is the one in the image - which looks very tempting. I'll wait for confirmation from Holden before ordering.

If you say Sokolov's  Schubert is really Richtarian -- anguished, spiritual and the still point of the turning world all at the same time -- I may give it a try.

[George]

Thanks for all these replies.

A browse through the Arkivmusik database reveals some interesting sounding CDs:

958 -- John Ogdon, Walter Klein
959 -- Bolet, Rudilf Serkin, Annie Fischer

Has anyone tried any of these? And (off topic really) has anyone tried Annie Fischer's D960?

I own all but the Bolet and the Ogdon. None of them really stood out for me.

[Holden]

This is  the one I have



but the Schnabel is even better if you don't mind the historic sound.

George - where did the Sokolov come from? I have the 10 disc set on Naive and it only has D845 and D960 and I can't find it listed in his discography.

[Herman]

There are cdr's of Sokolov playing D958 in Amsterdam, couple years ago.

[Todd]

958 -- John Ogdon So-so, Walter Klein Very good, but better can be had
959 -- Rudolf Serkin Extremely good, Annie Fischer I couldn't find a 959, though she has recorded 960 twice

[George]

Annie Fischer I couldn't find a 959, though she has recorded 960 twice

Live in Montreal 1984 on Palexa: http://www.amazon.com/Annie-Fischer-concert-%C3%A0-Montreal/dp/B0006V6TPI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1237414389&sr=8-1

[Todd]

Live in Montreal 1984 on Palexa

Well, duh, I have that one.  It's been a while, but she's not in top form for this work.

To the 960 question, her EMI recording is better than her Hungaroton recording, though neither are first choices for me.

[George]

Well, duh, I have that one.  It's been a while, but she's not in top form for this work.

I agree.

[Mandryka]

958 -- John Ogdon So-so, Walter Klein Very good, but better can be had
959 -- Rudolf Serkin Extremely good, Annie Fischer I couldn't find a 959, though she has recorded 960 twice

Great post -- you have heard everything!

!

[Mandryka]

There are cdr's of Sokolov playing D958 in Amsterdam, couple years ago.

Please, give me a clue about how to get one!

[Bunny]

I'm a bit confused and I wonder if anyone can tell me if Walter Klein is different from Walter Klien?  I've heard of Walter Klien, but not Klein.  My search engine keeps sending results for Walter Klien when I try to get results using "Walter Klein."

[George]

I'm a bit confused and I wonder if anyone can tell me if Walter Klein is different from Walter Klien?  I've heard of Walter Klien, but not Klein.  My search engine keeps sending results for Walter Klien when I try to get results using "Walter Klein."

Just one pianist to my knowledge, last name is spelled Klien.

[Todd]

Walter Klein is Walter Klien, and vice versa.  His last name is misspelled all the time on forums, so I just ignore it now.

[Mandryka]

958 -- Walter Klein Very good, but better can be had

Who? Richter and Lupu (ie the ones I know). Or am I missing something?

Thanks everyone for these suggestions. So far they have resulted in two discoveries.

Rudolf Serkin's D959 -- very slow and masterful, though somehow a bit joyless and four square. I know he felt that his early, youthful performances were too fast-- I'd love to hear how he played this in the 40s.

And another D959 -- Brendel live in London on Philips. I like it: it's got the feel of an exciting live performance. But there's something offputting about the honky tonk piano sound Brendel makes.

What I really want is Haskil playng these sonatas.

I think  Brendel can be a really characterful pianist live. This record proves it. And there's a live Hammerclavier from Vienna which I like very much. (I first heard it on the radio while driving, and I had to stop the car just to listen!)

I have only ever heard him live in solo piano music once -- a midnight concert of the Dabelli Variations in the Edinburgh Festival about 8 years ago. It was really special -- everyone was talking about it afterwards, in theatre queues, bars, everywhere. Magical night.