What are you listening 2 now?

[ritter]

An absorbing release. Schubert's 2-movement torso of a sonata has been completed here by Brian Newbould (who 'completed' the Unfinished symphony in the Marriner cycle).

Schubert had written most of the scherzo and part of the trio and had started the finale. What we get is a complete sonata whose last two movements owe as much to the skill of Newbould as to the composer's known intentions. The Reliquie portion (as it's been known ever since its publication in its two-movement form) is of course a formidable work in its own right.

Just like in the Wanderer-Fantasie and the first movement of D959, Schubert is shown here at his most assertive, indeed percussive self. Pianist Todd Crow is both sensitive and determined. The work moves inexorably from movement to movement. After the searching, disquieting Andante the scherzo reverts to the opening movement's staccato, typewriter kind of writing. It's labeled Menuetto. Allegretto, but there is little relaxation. The finale is an allegro Rondo (Schubert's own indication).

One is bound to be sceptical about the reconstructed parts, but since Schubert at least started and developed some of their material, we can assume the result is not just an approximation, but a legitimate work of music. So far my favourite version of this work has been from Brendel (he recorded it twice), who manages to be both brittle, slightly angry and yet convey a lyricism that clearly lurks in the background throughout. Crow is both clear-sounding and clear-headed, never unsure of where things are going.

The disc is completed by Schubert's 15min Thirteen Variations on a Theme of Anselm Hüttenbrenner, D576 and by Hüttenbrenner's own fine piano sonata in E major. Excellent piano sound, immediate yet clearly set in a warm acoustical space.

Very intersting, André! Thanks.

Ernst Krenek also made a completion of Schubert's D. 840. It was released on the same label, played by Stanislas Khristenko.



I very much like the 'Reliquie', and honestly prefer it as a torso...

[Brian]

Prokofiev this morning:



Semyon Kotko

and then



the revised Symphony No. 4, very excitingly played

Very intersting, André! Thanks.

Ernst Krenek also made a completion of Schubert's D. 840. It was released on the same label, played by Stanislas Khristenko.



I very much like the 'Reliquie', and honestly prefer it as a torso...

There is also a new Can Cakmur Schubert/Krenek recital on BIS. Paired with Krenek's Sonata No. 2 and two Schubert miniatures, the Hungarian Melody and Allegretto.

[Todd]

K280.

[Florestan]

Schubert completed Krenek --- what I infer from this is that Krenek was unfinished and Schubert completed him. 

[Todd]

K281.

[Wanderer]

[andolink]

Superb recording and perfomances of some delectable chamber music from the mid 1690's (though not published until 1707):



Elisabeth JACQUET DE LA GUERRE (1665 - 1729)
Sonates pour le violon et basse continue (1707)
Sonata I in d minor [15:45]
Sonata II in D [7:38]
Sonata III in F [9:05]
Sonata IV in G [10:15]
Sonata V in a minor [9:27]
Sonata VI in A [16:28]
Lina Tur Bonet (violin), Patxi Montero (viola da gamba), Kenneth Weiss (harpsichord)
rec. 11-13 January 2011, Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Getafe, Madrid, Spain. DDD
VERSO VRS 2114 [69:06]

[Que]

[Brian]

Schubert completed Krenek --- what I infer from this is that Krenek was unfinished and Schubert completed him. 

They actually fell in love.