Schubert Piano Recordings

[MusicTurner]

If I knew what joke you were trying to make I might work out whether to laugh...
(...)

You don't have to do that. But strictly speaking I wasn't really suggesting D959 is unknown - just pointing to classical music as a potential source for other genres, via variation. D960 is the better known, though.

I've got the Tori Amos album, but don't know it that well. The live section of 'To Venus & Back' so far remains my favourite of hers, for sure. I'll check the song mentioned tonight.

[MusicTurner]

Well that's the song "Star Whisperer" by Tori Amos, actually...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0neckDFmJU

You're right of course, very direct quotations, and it turns out that I actually didn't have just that album by Tori Amos, so it's now on my want list.

[Madiel]

You're right of course, very direct quotations, and it turns out that I actually didn't have just that album by Tori Amos, so it's now on my want list.

Oh well, my work here is done. 

Part of the reason I'm not such a fan of that particular song is that the quotation is extremely direct and obvious. In some other songs on the album the reference to a classical piece is still quite apparent, but I think she's done a better job of integrating it into her own material and making something new.  Your opinion may vary of course once you hear everything.

[MusicTurner]

Oh well, my work here is done. 

Part of the reason I'm not such a fan of that particular song is that the quotation is extremely direct and obvious. In some other songs on the album the reference to a classical piece is still quite apparent, but I think she's done a better job of integrating it into her own material and making something new.  Your opinion may vary of course once you hear everything.

Well, obviously I tend to prefer a more edgy and less 'girlish' Tori Amos, and the album seems to contain some of that ...

[San Antone]

The ECM recordings by András Schiff of Schubert are among my favorites.  He has begun using period keyboards in some of his more recent recording, Beethoven's Diabelli Variations is wonderful.

As is this Schubert recording.

Schubert | Sonatas & Impromptus
Schubert's late works on his Brodmann fortepiano

[SonicMan46]

The ECM recordings by András Schiff of Schubert are among my favorites.  He has begun using period keyboards in some of his more recent recording, Beethoven's Diabelli Variations is wonderful.

As is this Schubert recording.

Schubert | Sonatas & Impromptus
Schubert's late works on his Brodmann fortepiano

 

Hi San Antone - unaware that Schiff was doing these works on fortepiano, and excited - I have the box of Uchida on modern piano which I like and Badura-Skoda on his 'original' FPs which does not thrill me - see that Schiff that put out two 2-CD recordings (other inserted above), a couple more may be a completion?  Dave

[San Antone]

Hi San Antone - unaware that Schiff was doing these works on fortepiano, and excited - I have the box of Uchida on modern piano which I like and Badura-Skoda on his 'original' FPs which does not thrill me - see that Schiff that put out two 2-CD recordings (other inserted above), a couple more may be a completion?  Dave

It is very possible that Schiff will release a third volume of Schubert works, I would certainly welcome one.

[George]

Could fans of Brendel's Schubert please tell me how the earlier, analog recordings for Philips compare to his later, digital ones for Philips?

[Hans Holbein]

Does anyone here know whether the 12 CD box set of Vermeulen has the same notes and documentation as the original 2 CD sets? I would like to get this cycle but would be a little disappointed if the box has a bare-bones booklet as so many seem to.

[Que]

Does anyone here know whether the 12 CD box set of Vermeulen has the same notes and documentation as the original 2 CD sets? I would like to get this cycle but would be a little disappointed if the box has a bare-bones booklet as so many seem to.

It's a bare bones booklet.

[SonicMan46]

Impromptus, D899 & D935 (described below) - who are your current favorites?

Recently, I acquired the Lucchesini CD of these works (see below) and was impressed by a listen and the excellent reviews (attached) - my other recordings are Orkis & Vermuelen on fortepianos and the Uchida box - did a comparison this afternoon (sans Uchida) and although a BIG period instrument fan, I had more aural enjoyment from Andrea on modern piano (must do a similar A:B w/ Mitsuko) - SO, just wondering if others have been 'touched' my more recent productions of these oft recorded works?  Thanks - Dave

Franz Schubert's Impromptus are a series of eight pieces for solo piano composed in 1827. They were published in two sets of four each: the first two pieces in the first set were published in the composer's lifetime as Op. 90; the second set was published posthumously as Op. 142 in 1839. The third and fourth pieces in the first set were published in 1857. The two sets are now catalogued as D. 899 and D. 935 respectively. They are considered to be among the most important examples of this popular early 19th-century genre.
Three other unnamed piano compositions (D. 946), written in May 1828, a few months before the composer's death, are known as both "Impromptus" and Klavierstücke. The Impromptus are often considered companion pieces to the Six moments musicaux, and are often recorded together.
It has been said that Schubert was deeply influenced in writing these pieces by the Impromptus, Op. 7 (1822) of Jan Václav Voříšek and by the music of Voříšek's teacher Václav Tomášek. (Source)

 

 

[Todd]

Lucchesini's set is the current century go to for me for complete sets.  Andras Schiff's HIP ECM recordings, spread across two twofers, is the HIP set for me.  Schiff's HIP Schubert is the best HIP Schubert I've heard.

[George]

Having adored his Beethoven sonatas, I had high hopes for Lucchesini's Schubert impromptus, but I failed to connect with them. Pires remains my favorite, though I also like Kempff and Lupu's.   

[SonicMan46]

Lucchesini's set is the current century go to for me for complete sets.  Andras Schiff's HIP ECM recordings, spread across two twofers, is the HIP set for me.  Schiff's HIP Schubert is the best HIP Schubert I've heard.

Thanks Todd - agree completely w/ Lucchesini - will need to hear Schiff for sure!  Dave

[Mandryka]

Impromptus, D899 & D935 (described below) - who are your current favorites?

Recently, I acquired the Lucchesini CD of these works (see below) and was impressed by a listen and the excellent reviews (attached) - my other recordings are Orkis & Vermuelen on fortepianos and the Uchida box - did a comparison this afternoon (sans Uchida) and although a BIG period instrument fan, I had more aural enjoyment from Andrea on modern piano (must do a similar A:B w/ Mitsuko) - SO, just wondering if others have been 'touched' my more recent productions of these oft recorded works?  Thanks - Dave

 

 

Have you heard Lupu? I think it would be my top pick for commercially available complete surveys of op 90 and op 142 with good sound. I like Lupu's reticence and introspectiveness, the way he avoids all swagger. I also like his touch, the lyricism and delicacy.

In this music, it's op 142/1 which is my favourite, and there Demidenko is also good I think - but as far as I can see he has never recorded op 90.

[Florestan]

Seconded. A magnificent journey, indeed.

[Florestan]

This is the best Op. 90/1 I've ever listened to. Vogt plays it in a truly improvisatory manner, giving the vivid impression that the music is being created on the spot, out of nothing. Amazing.

Not a complete set but highly recommended. The other works are played equally fine. Vogt's untimely death (and Angelich's, for that matter) was a tragic loss.

[George]

What do folks think of this set?

I already have Schnabel, Kempff, Brendel, Barenboim, Richter, Lupu and Arrau in the sonatas.

[Jo498]

I didn't know it was even close to complete! I have 1 or 2 Teldec discs with Leonskaja (w/ D 959, I think), the were highly regarded and are very good but I am not sure if it will add that much to what you have. Maybe in the earlier pieces. Leonskaja seems about in the middle of Richter and Lupu, not as extreme as Richter but slowish, grand scale and "Russian" and not quite as lyrical als Lupu. Whatever I mean with that.
I am not such a nut about these sonatas but the discs I heard didn't make me rush to get the rest although they are very good.

[Todd]

What do folks think of this set?

I already have Schnabel, Kempff, Brendel, Barenboim, Richter, Lupu and Arrau in the sonatas.

I have the earlier, six-disc set of Teldec recordings.  I do not know what the interpretive differences between those recordings and these Warner recordings may be, but assuming they are similar, her Schubert is good.  It will sound different enough from the names on the list to warrant purchase. I mean, I'd probably see if you can find Dalberto's set cheap, or maybe consider Zacharias, but for like twenty bucks, why worry?