Franz Schubert

[LKB]

I've not heard the Jochum. In fact, he's probably the conductor I've neglected above all others from the last sixty years or so, which is somewhat embarrassing considering his contributions to Bruckner.

I'll seek it out. 

[Atriod]

I've not heard the Jochum. In fact, he's probably the conductor I've neglected above all others from the last sixty years or so, which is somewhat embarrassing considering his contributions to Bruckner.

I'll seek it out. 

I've heard all the readily available ones (I'm sure I haven't heard some small labels or plenty of Japanese recordings) and Jochum/BSO is the most bleak I've ever heard; he takes us right to the event horizon.

There is also one with the CO, similarly intense but the playing from the CO is scrappy and not as razor sharp and perfect as the BSO. The BSO sound like they put everything into it, especially the strings.

[Mandryka]

The Unfinished has a real problem with lethargic tempi - most often in the first movement in my opinion. It's marked "allegro moderato" but most recordings start at allegretto and droop down to andante.

My ideal recording would have HIP style tempi but romantic emotional expression and depth. This is a difficult combination - a lot of faster interpreters (e.g. Dausgaard) are too facile.

Have you heard Munch?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBD7kmP7Zt8&ab_channel=cgoroo

[Scion7]

EDIT: Wait, the first movement takes 16 minutes??!?

try this one:

[Mandryka]

I've heard all the readily available ones (I'm sure I haven't heard some small labels or plenty of Japanese recordings) and Jochum/BSO is the most bleak I've ever heard; he takes us right to the event horizon.

And it's pretty racy in the first movement - 10 mins.

[ando]

Interesting analysis (below) of Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat Major. Happy Birthay, Franz!

[ando]

Retiring to this short Andrâs Schiff film on the life and music Schubert.

[Spotted Horses]

I've heard all the readily available ones (I'm sure I haven't heard some small labels or plenty of Japanese recordings) and Jochum/BSO is the most bleak I've ever heard; he takes us right to the event horizon.

There is also one with the CO, similarly intense but the playing from the CO is scrappy and not as razor sharp and perfect as the BSO. The BSO sound like they put everything into it, especially the strings.

I was intrigued to read this, I wasn't aware that Jochum recorded the Schubert "unfinished," and I wasn't aware he ever recorded with the BSO.

However, I come to the opposite conclusion. The BSO recording struck me as polished, beautifully done but not particularly exciting, whereas the Concertgebouw recording (a mono recording from 1952) struck me as extraordinary, intense and visceral.

My two favorite recordings of the work (which I haven't listened to in ages) are the old Harnoncourt/Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Karajan/BPO from the 60's on DG, which probably couldn't be more different from each other.

[springrite]

try this one:

The very first time I heard the Schubert unfinished symphony was in the early 80's, at LA Phil concert where Giulini started by going on the podium, turn to the audience and announced that he is retiring from the post because of his wife's illness. "She gave her whole life to me. It is time for me to give my time to her." Then he turned around and started the unfinished symphony.
I did not know much about classical music then. But I do remember that it was very slow, but tightly held together and very moving. Many of the people in the audience was in tears, myself included.

[Atriod]

I was intrigued to read this, I wasn't aware that Jochum recorded the Schubert "unfinished," and I wasn't aware he ever recorded with the BSO.

However, I come to the opposite conclusion. The BSO recording struck me as polished, beautifully done but not particularly exciting, whereas the Concertgebouw recording (a mono recording from 1952) struck me as extraordinary, intense and visceral.

My two favorite recordings of the work (which I haven't listened to in ages) are the old Harnoncourt/Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Karajan/BPO from the 60's on DG, which probably couldn't be more different from each other.

I listened to the Harnoncourt/Vienna, I don't think it's anywhere near as good or intense as Jochum/BSO. The CO performance is perhaps a bit more visceral but I just couldn't enjoy it with the CO's subpar playing, how I hear the BSO is giving it their all while still being the ultra precise BSO I am used to hearing. I don't have my 1960s Karajan box at this house but I'll make a point to revisit it, going from memory it's a good performance.

Among the too many Harnoncourts I seem to recall not minding the most recent one on BPO's own label (could definitely be wrong about this, this is going by memory).

[Mandryka]

Very fun video of Rattle rehearsing the Schubert/Zender Winterreise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9djnSSStGw&ab_channel=SymphonieorchesterdesBayerischenRundfunks

[Mandryka]

The booklet from Tobias Koch's recording of the last three sonatas

http://tobiaskoch.eu/wp-content/uploads/SCHUBERT_SONATAS_TOBIAS_KOCH.pdf

[calyptorhynchus]

I see Koch takes 31 minutes over the first movement of D960. Is this a record?

[lordlance]

Nevermind.

[lordlance]

I'm on a fortepiano kick of late. Listening to Brautigam perform Impromptu, D. 899. I enjoyed the first one even if second and third not so much. I've never terribly liked Schubert piano music because it feels... Meditative? It lacks the tempestuousness of Beethoven and Liszt.

Any specific fortepiano recommendations of his life extroverted pieces? (I like the Liszt Wanderer Fantasy)

Also curious for thoughts on this 12 disc Schubert box set of keyboard works on fortepiano which I've not come across before -

[Mandryka]

 @lordlance


Stanley Hoogland D959

https://www.amazon.fr/Last-Available-Items-Stanley-Hoogland/dp/B0036EFRDW

[Todd]

[Que]

Also curious for thoughts on this 12 disc Schubert box set of keyboard works on fortepiano which I've not come across before -

Definitely recommended!

Also: Vermeulen's earlier recordings on Vanguard, any of Andreas Staier's Schubert recordings, Alexei Lubimov's Impromptus (and his duets recording with Staier) and a recording by Jos van Immerseel of D960 & D946 "Abschied von einem Freunde".

[Florestan]

Definitely recommended!

+ 1.

[Mandryka]

Just thinking of 959, there's Olga Tverskaya, Tobias Koch,  Andras Staier , Paul Badura Skoda, Bilson, T. Leonhatdt, Tan and John Kouhri too.

I chose 959 because it's a piece of music which has some of the tempestuousness which @lordlance wants. The real question is, which interpretation brings this side of the music out best?

Schiff, @Todd 's recommendation, has a lovely piano and recorded sound, a very delicate nuanced and thoughtful interpretation.