Has anyone heard Bolet's D784 and D959?
Lousy review in Gramaphone -- but I trust you guys more!
You have one of the best D959s in the Schnabel. He makes the most sense of this work, especially the slow movement. Brendel is also exceptional.
Looks like you're pretty much set. In addition to the Brendel there's another 'mainstream' 959 recording worth mentioning, and that's Perahia on CBS (coupled with Schumann's 2nd sonata). It's from the mid-eighties, and arguably the last recording of the young, passionate Perahia, before he morphed into the rather statesmanlike performer he's been since.
Quote from: Mandryka on March 17, 2009, 10:11:25 PM
I have made some nice Schubert discoveries recently – the two sonatas by Haskil for example, and the three by Fiorentino. So I am kind of curious if there is anything good that I am missing in D958 and D959.
Sokolov in D 959 is my favorite. I went through a few weeks where I tried every D 959 I could get my hands on, as Richter did not record this one and he's my favorite usually for the Schubert piano sonatas. Sokolov was the most Richter-like. I also like the live Brendel on Philips a lot. Is that the one you were referring to,
Holden?
Pollini made a very fine recording of this pair, although the D960 that accompany them does not impress me, partly because they were made with a different producer and the audio engineering is less satisfying.
In no particular order:
959 - Brendel ('80s); Perahia ('80s); Kempff; Kovacevich; Pollini
958 - Richter (can't remember date); Andsnes; Kempff; Pollini; Zacharias
Thanks for all these replies.
A browse through the Arkivmusik database reveals some interesting sounding CDs:
958 -- John Ogdon, Walter Klein
959 -- Bolet, Rudilf Serkin, Annie Fischer
Has anyone tried any of these? And (off topic really) has anyone tried Annie Fischer's D960?
Quote from: George on March 18, 2009, 02:53:15 AM
Sokolov in D 959 is my favorite. I went through a few weeks where I tried every D 959 I could get my hands on, as Richter did not record this one and he's my favorite usually for the Schubert piano sonatas. Sokolov was the most Richter-like. I also like the live Brendel on Philips a lot. Is that the one you were referring to, Holden?
I assume that the Brendel Holden refers to is the one in the image - which looks very tempting. I'll wait for confirmation from Holden before ordering.
If you say Sokolov's Schubert is really Richtarian -- anguished, spiritual and the still point of the turning world all at the same time -- I may give it a try.
Quote from: Mandryka on March 18, 2009, 11:31:33 AM
Thanks for all these replies.
A browse through the Arkivmusik database reveals some interesting sounding CDs:
958 -- John Ogdon, Walter Klein
959 -- Bolet, Rudilf Serkin, Annie Fischer
Has anyone tried any of these? And (off topic really) has anyone tried Annie Fischer's D960?
I own all but the Bolet and the Ogdon. None of them really stood out for me.
This is the one I have
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/311E80ZZS3L._SL500_AA180_.jpg)
but the Schnabel is even better if you don't mind the historic sound.
George - where did the Sokolov come from? I have the 10 disc set on Naive and it only has D845 and D960 and I can't find it listed in his discography.
There are cdr's of Sokolov playing D958 in Amsterdam, couple years ago.
958 -- John Ogdon So-so, Walter Klein Very good, but better can be had
959 -- Rudolf Serkin Extremely good, Annie Fischer I couldn't find a 959, though she has recorded 960 twice
Quote from: Todd on March 18, 2009, 01:12:07 PM
Annie Fischer I couldn't find a 959, though she has recorded 960 twice
Live in Montreal 1984 on Palexa: http://www.amazon.com/Annie-Fischer-concert-%C3%A0-Montreal/dp/B0006V6TPI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1237414389&sr=8-1
Quote from: George on March 18, 2009, 02:13:59 PMLive in Montreal 1984 on Palexa
Well, duh, I have that one. It's been a while, but she's not in top form for this work.
To the 960 question, her EMI recording is better than her Hungaroton recording, though neither are first choices for me.
Quote from: Todd on March 18, 2009, 03:12:56 PM
Well, duh, I have that one. It's been a while, but she's not in top form for this work.
I agree.
Quote from: Todd on March 18, 2009, 01:12:07 PM
958 -- John Ogdon So-so, Walter Klein Very good, but better can be had
959 -- Rudolf Serkin Extremely good, Annie Fischer I couldn't find a 959, though she has recorded 960 twice
Great post -- you have heard everything!
!
Quote from: Herman on March 18, 2009, 12:40:17 PM
There are cdr's of Sokolov playing D958 in Amsterdam, couple years ago.
Please, give me a clue about how to get one!
I'm a bit confused and I wonder if anyone can tell me if Walter Klein is different from Walter Klien? I've heard of Walter Klien, but not Klein. My search engine keeps sending results for Walter Klien when I try to get results using "Walter Klein."
Quote from: Bunny on March 19, 2009, 09:15:34 AM
I'm a bit confused and I wonder if anyone can tell me if Walter Klein is different from Walter Klien? I've heard of Walter Klien, but not Klein. My search engine keeps sending results for Walter Klien when I try to get results using "Walter Klein."
Just one pianist to my knowledge, last name is spelled Klien.
Walter Klein is Walter Klien, and vice versa. His last name is misspelled all the time on forums, so I just ignore it now.
Quote from: Todd on March 18, 2009, 01:12:07 PM
958 -- Walter Klein Very good, but better can be had
Who? Richter and Lupu (ie the ones I know). Or am I missing something?
Thanks everyone for these suggestions. So far they have resulted in two discoveries.
Rudolf Serkin's D959 -- very slow and masterful, though somehow a bit joyless and four square. I know he felt that his early, youthful performances were too fast-- I'd love to hear how he played this in the 40s.
And another D959 -- Brendel live in London on Philips. I like it: it's got the feel of an exciting live performance. But there's something offputting about the honky tonk piano sound Brendel makes.
What I really want is Haskil playng these sonatas.
I think Brendel can be a really characterful pianist live. This record proves it. And there's a live Hammerclavier from Vienna which I like very much. (I first heard it on the radio while driving, and I had to stop the car just to listen!)
I have only ever heard him live in solo piano music once -- a midnight concert of the Dabelli Variations in the Edinburgh Festival about 8 years ago. It was really special -- everyone was talking about it afterwards, in theatre queues, bars, everywhere. Magical night.
Quote from: Mandryka on March 17, 2009, 10:11:25 PM
Your recommendations please for great recordings of D959 and D958.
I own CDs by Schnabel, Richter (D958) and Lupu, and I have heard CDs by Kempff and Peraiah and Paul Lewis.
I have made some nice Schubert discoveries recently – the two sonatas by Haskil for example, and the three by Fiorentino. So I am kind of curious if there is anything good that I am missing in D958 and D959.
Schnabel's Schubert is my favourite!!!
Quote from: LouisLee on March 24, 2009, 07:48:10 AM
Schnabel's Schubert is my favourite!!!
Welcome Louis. :)
I plan to start a thread on this board about Schnabel soon. His Music and Arts set of Schubert works is new to my collection and I look forward to getting to know it better. His Beethoven is a delight!
Quote from: LouisLee on March 24, 2009, 07:48:10 AM
Schnabel's Schubert is my favourite!!!
In D959 he certainly excells in the last movement.
But there are many other equally interesting performances of the rest of the symphony, I think. Lupu for example is clost to ideal. And the live Brendel has some great ideas in the second movement.
So you need to make a compilation CD maybe:
D959 first movement: Lupu
D959 second movement: Brendel live
D959 third movement -- not found anyone yet.
D959 fourth movement: Schnabel
>:D
Quote from: Mandryka on March 24, 2009, 10:31:00 PM
D959 second movement: Brendel live
maybe someone can upload the live Sokolov performance. He has a thrilling second movement (if that's the slow movement)
Quote from: ezodisy on March 24, 2009, 11:37:15 PM
maybe someone can upload the live Sokolov performance. He has a thrilling second movement (if that's the slow movement)
Sokolov Schubert D 959, Live (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=45732805cf4581668ab8b2f348899ad0712acb055dac6ff3)
thanks George, I'm going to download the second mvt now (not my fav sonata)...
Quote from: George on March 25, 2009, 02:48:51 AM
Sokolov Schubert D 959, Live (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=45732805cf4581668ab8b2f348899ad0712acb055dac6ff3)
Well I've finally listened to it -- and I think the two middle movements are really very special.
I thought the first movement had some great things in it -- it sort of lightens up after about 7 minutes and becomes quite fantastic. But somehow it didn't hang together.
And I didn't much enjoy what he does with the last movement.
Thanks for uploading it. I was pleasantly surprised by how good this performance is.
I'll just report that I have found an antedote to Richter's D958 in a nice performance by Youri Egerov.
There's also A Cd by Leif Ove Andsnes which is pretty good.
During this mini-explaration of Schubert piano sonatas I have found what is possibly my favourite Schubert piano performance of all -- I'll mention it here even though it is off topic. It's Zhukov's CD of the A minor sonata -- D784 -- on a very lovely disc with some Prokofiev and some Beethoven.
For period instrument performances there are the recordings by Andreas Staier, fortepiano, that are oop. The single disc with of the D958 and D959 is oop but not scarce, but the oop recording of all three of the late sonatas (includes a second cd with the D960) is almost impossible to find. They are probably the best recordings on fortepiano. The recording with D958 and D959 is usually being sold by an amazon vendor.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31A6Mrbf36L._SS400_.jpg) (http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/1d/54/0bc2828fd7a01d1002144110.L.jpg)
Quote from: Mandryka on April 19, 2009, 02:39:07 AM
During this mini-explaration of Schubert piano sonatas I have found what is possibly my favourite Schubert piano performance of all -- I'll mention it here even though it is off topic. It's Zhukov's CD of the A minor sonata -- D784 -- on a very lovely disc with some Prokofiev and some Beethoven.
Which label is that on?
Quote from: rubio on April 19, 2009, 08:02:34 AM
Which label is that on?
Live Classics.
Here's a link
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Igor-Shukov-Ludwig-van-Beethoven/dp/B000025FM1/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1240162470&sr=8-2
Quote from: Mandryka on April 19, 2009, 09:35:02 AM
Live Classics.
Here's a link
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Igor-Shukov-Ludwig-van-Beethoven/dp/B000025FM1/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1240162470&sr=8-2
Thanks! I try it.