Last 3 Piano Sonatas: Beethoven or Schubert?

[ChamberNut]

I would have said Beethoven a few days ago without even blinking....until I heard the final 3 as performed by Murray Perahia.  Surely it's option # 3 for me at the moment.

[George]

I would have said Beethoven a few days ago without even blinking....until I heard the final 3 as performed by Murray Perahia.  Surely it's option # 3 for me at the moment.

Me too.

I will add that if Schubert's last 3 were D 894, 959 and 960 then I would be picking his over Beethoven's (and it'd be an easy choice.)  

BTW, you may want to hear Perahia's Schubert Impromptus too. I hear they are superb!

[ChamberNut]

BTW, you may want to hear Perahia's Schubert Impromptus too. I hear they are superb!

I just got the Brendel set of Impromptus and Moment Musicaux and love it!

[Drasko]

I would have said Beethoven a few days ago without even blinking....until I heard the final 3 as performed by Murray Perahia. 

Was he that bad?

[George]

I just got the Brendel set of Impromptus and Moment Musicaux and love it!

I bet you'd love this one:



http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-Piano-Sonatas-D575-894/dp/B0000544G7

[ChamberNut]

Was he that bad?

?  You mean...that good? 

[George]

?  You mean...that good? 

Well, your post says "heard last 3 by Perahia" but you don't say if it's the final three by LvB or Schubert.

[ChamberNut]

Well, your post says "heard last 3 by Perahia" but you don't say if it's the final three by LvB or Schubert.

Ahh, I see where the confusion is.  I meant heard the last 3 Schubert performed by Perahia.

[Lilas Pastia]

No doubt IMO: Schubert. But Beethoven's are just as great. It's just that I'm more often and powerfully attracted by Schubert's.

George, did you mean D.894, the G major sonata? If that's the case I agree 100%. Although D. 958 is no slouch either - just a slighter work.

[George]

George, did you mean D.894, the G major sonata? If that's the case I agree 100%.

Yes, smart guess! I will edit my post. 

[Josquin des Prez]

Beethoven. Also, Perahia is terrible, or rather, terribly bland.

[Todd]

Beethoven. Also, Perahia is terrible, or rather, terribly bland.

His first D959 isn't bland, but the later set could be considered bland.

To the point of the topic, Beethoven.  Hands down.  I love Schubert, but he's a lesser mortal.

[Valentino]

BTW, you may want to hear Perahia's Schubert Impromptus too. I hear they are superb!

Yes. I bought the first CD issue of those along time ago. If I had bought the LP it would have been worn out by now.

[The new erato]

Much as I love Schuberts sonatas, Beethoven wins nearly hands down. Here one is comparing the superb to the sublime and what is probably the "best" piano music ever written.

[val]

My choice was Beethoven. I think that his 3 last three sonatas are among his supreme masterpieces, with the opus 106, the Diabelli Variations, the string Quartets opus 59/1 & 2, 95, 127, 130, 131 and 132 and the Solemnis Mass.
To me, this is the "alpha & omega" of the Music.

But the last Sonatas of Schubert are very beautiful works, in special the last two. With the string Quintet, Winterreise, the string Quartet in G, the 2nd piano Trio and some of his last Lieder, this is the most sublime music composed between Beethoven and Brahms.

[The new erato]

But the last Sonatas of Schubert are very beautiful works, in special the last two. With the string Quintet, Winterreise, the string Quartet in G, the 2nd piano Trio and some of his last Lieder, this is the most sublime music composed between Beethoven and Brahms.

Seconded. Though some of Schumanns best Lieder comes close.

[prémont]

Without detracting from Schubert, I must say that I think LvB´s last three Piano sonatas are some of the most sublime music ever written for any instrument. Schubert is good, but the competition in this case is just too strong.

[Lilas Pastia]

The Beethoven brigade has voted en masse !  

When Schubert died, he was 31. In 1801 Beethoven had composed his first 15 sonatas.... 0:)

[Holden]

BTW, you may want to hear Perahia's Schubert Impromptus too. I hear they are superb!

I've had the CD for over 15 years now and can agree that these are excellent performances of the Impromptus. I've also got Fiorentino in D899 and from memory he matches Perahia here. A pity he didn't do D935.

[FideLeo]

Without detracting from Schubert, I must say that I think LvB´s last three Piano sonatas are some of the most sublime music ever written for any instrument. Schubert is good, but the competition in this case is just too strong.

No fugues in Schubert's last three sonatas!  On that ground alone I must favour LvB.