Schubert Piano Recordings

[Mandryka]

I've been listening to the D850 by Russell Sherman here, mainly because George was asing about him. I've never listened to Russell Sherman before and so I got a bit curious and D850 is one of the Schubert sonatas I really like, for some reason.



It's on spotify.

Anyway what a surprise! This is fun. He's light, he has a way of making the music sound quirky and angular. I thought it was the most lively and entertaining performance of the first movement I can remember hearing. He's aenough of a musician to tell a story with the music so there are absolutely no boring moments.  The variations, though they're maybe not as emotionally deep as Richter on Praga, they are . . . fun. He's an entertainer, this Sherman,  and I like that.

There's quite a bit more on spotify, some mazurkas for example, which I've started to dip into fairly randomly. And guess what . . they sound light, fun, energetic, entertaining, quirky.

Unfortunately the Beethoven seems unobtainable at a reasonable price, maybe it's on youtube, I haven't checked.

[Todd]

He's an entertainer, this Sherman,  and I like that.

He is indeed.  The Schubert is good, the 850 more so than the 960, but his LvB is even better.  I'd like to get my hands on his Haydn, as well.  (Oh, his Debussy is also worth considering.)

[George]

... his LvB is even better.

Are his sonatas as good as his concertos?

[Todd]

Are his sonatas as good as his concertos?

Yes, but they are even more idiosyncratic.  Think of him as an older, male HJ Lim, but with talent and ability.

[George]

Yes, but they are even more idiosyncratic.  Think of him as an older, male HJ Lim, but with talent and ability.

You had me at "even more ideosyncraticc."

[Mandryka]

You had me at "even more ideosyncraticc."

He got me at the talent and ability bit actually

[Mandryka]

Lupu only recorded a selection of Schubert's piano music, and the Sonata D537 isn't included.  The second movement from that piece is one of my favorite bits of Schubert piano music.

This is one of my favourite pieces too. It's nice to see someone else is fond of it. And I agree that Kempff is outstanding there -- he's always at his best when the music is individual and eccentric and idiosyncratic like this, it suits his kind of free, imaginative, creative style. Tempo and rhythms perfect, not too romantic or lyrical, a slight feeling of impish  craziness runs through it.

Having said that there are others I love just as much --  Pludermacher and the live Michelangeli (Michelangeli's DG is much less interesting I think)? Actually, maybe I love them just a little less than Kempff.

Leonskaja has started to play this one in recitals. Is there a recording anywhere?

Altogether I think Pludermacher's Schubert is well worth exploring.

[George]

... Kempff is outstanding there -- he's always at his best when the music is individual and eccentric and idiosyncratic like this, it suits his kind of free, imaginative, creative style...

I have found Kempff's style to be more conservative and restrained. Can you give some examples of his style as you described it?

[Mandryka]

I have found Kempff's style to be more conservative and restrained. Can you give some examples of his style as you described it?

The live Op 126, D946, Brahms op 5, I'm listening to him play Brahms Op 118/4 live as I type and I can hear it there,  Seem to remember you can hear it in the mono studio Op 2/2 too, but it's a while since I heard that one.

I don't think that he is restrained when he's inspired, but his dyonysean  qualities aren't about dynamic contrasts or emotional variety or romantic heart-on-sleeveness. It's about somehing else which I can't quite find the words for. Like quiet  but deeply felt laughter. I'm exploring this pianist quite a lot now, it's a matter of sorting the wheat from the chaff.

[George]

The live Op 126, D946...

I assume you mean the BBC Legends CD? I am listening to the D946 from there now and is spectacular (and as you described)! If I listened blind, I never would have guessed it was Kempff.

[Todd]

I have found Kempff's style to be more conservative and restrained.

Kempff's live recordings display a freer style, though there are often more slips.  The trade off is generally worth it.  His live Emperor with Ozawa is a perfect example. 

[Mandryka]

I assume you mean the BBC Legends CD? I am listening to the D946 from there now and is spectacular (and as you described)! If I listened blind, I never would have guessed it was Kempff.

The Beethoven bagatelles are an Orfeo Cd, as is the Brahms Op 116. I was thinking of the D946 and Brahms Op5 on BBC.

[Mandryka]

Another good one is the D566 on BBC.

[Verena]

The Beethoven bagatelles are an Orfeo Cd, as is the Brahms Op 116. I was thinking of the D946 and Brahms Op5 on BBC.

The D946 is one of his very best recordings IMO.

[Brian]

This is a new Connoisseur Society CD (the same producer who brought you Ivan Moravec's Chopin 50 years ago and David Allen Wehr's Beethoven) featuring pianist Edward Rosser in Schubert's sonata D960 and the Moments musicaux. It's never pedestrian; it's nobody else's Schubert. Sometimes Rosser is finicky or peculiar, sometimes he's inspired, sometimes his phrasing is simply transcendent. And he successfully - I think - pulls off the sonata's slow movement with a timing of 12:51. A pretty remarkable, stimulating release. You can find it at Rosser's website for the very reasonable price of $15, shipping included.

[Octave]

Does anyone have thoughts on Elisabeth Leonskaja's Schubert recordings on Warner/Apex?  I was reminded of her 'Trout' with the Alban Berg Quartett (EMI), which I heard in a box with the ABQ's String Quintet and late quartets several years ago when I was just getting to know Schubert's music.  I'm interested in her recordings of the sonatas etc.

[Brian]

This is a new Connoisseur Society CD (the same producer who brought you Ivan Moravec's Chopin 50 years ago and David Allen Wehr's Beethoven) featuring pianist Edward Rosser in Schubert's sonata D960 and the Moments musicaux. It's never pedestrian; it's nobody else's Schubert. Sometimes Rosser is finicky or peculiar, sometimes he's inspired, sometimes his phrasing is simply transcendent. And he successfully - I think - pulls off the sonata's slow movement with a timing of 12:51. A pretty remarkable, stimulating release. You can find it at Rosser's website for the very reasonable price of $15, shipping included.

Third listen to this and still impressed. "Stimulating" does seem the right word.

[Pat B]

Earlier in this thread, the subject of period instrument versions came up. This had piqued my interest at the time, and I've been since searching for the Holy Grail of PI Schubert sets. So, I finally have it:
...
Badura-Skoda is at his best here, if you have his Mozart and Beethoven you know what I mean. There are few players on the fortepiano who could best him, and here he uses a variety of pianos, including several different Grafs and reproductions. Some of them have Turkish pedals that produce some truly remarkable sounds. Altogether an interesting experience.

As Opus106 mentioned in the bargains thread -- thanks for the tip! -- this has been reissued at a great price (link). I and several others GMG'ers have bought it. I listened to disc 1 last night and noticed some, uh, unusual sounds that I liked but were definitely not what I expected.

I actually wondered if something was wrong with my playback equipment.

Then I re-read this, then I re-listened, and eventually figured out I was hearing these Turkish pedals. I'm sure somebody will pooh-pooh it but I think it's great.

[Parsifal]

Does anyone have thoughts on Elisabeth Leonskaja's Schubert recordings on Warner/Apex?  I was reminded of her 'Trout' with the Alban Berg Quartett (EMI), which I heard in a box with the ABQ's String Quintet and late quartets several years ago when I was just getting to know Schubert's music.  I'm interested in her recordings of the sonatas etc.

Just get it.  If someone claims not to like it, will that make it any more or less likely that you will like it?

[Octave]

Just get it.  If someone claims not to like it, will that make it any more or less likely that you will like it?

Oho, Scarpia's on the hunt!