Customer Reviews

Schubert: Impromptus D 899 & D 935 / Radu Lupu

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Few musicians really get the dynamics and the correct articulation hid in Schubert's music. Hence those rare ones who can catch the right Schubert's tempo always give us a very special insight into Schubert's lonely heart. Here is a good example. Lupu handles these pieces with great poetry, in a singing temple only appears in Schubert's work. Via Lupu, I really know what Schubert want to say. It's a wonderful experience. Recommended.

The first thing that strikes the ear, after the almost mystical playing, is the sound quality. This has to be the most realistic sounding piano recording ever. It is other worldly. As a composer, Schubert was at his most expressive in these profoundly personal pieces. A must have recording.

I felt hesitant buying this recording: My standard for beauty and poetry in Schubert's piano music is the Piano Sonatas, less so the Impromptus. I read how good Radu Lupu was in Schubert but could only find his recording of the Impromptus at my local store - not the Sonatas. I also felt I had heard the Impromptus so many times that I wondered what Lupu could bring to them.

Was I wrong!

Hearing Lupu in the Schubert Impromptus is like hearing them for the first time! A revelation. Lupu is an absolute poet. His playing is so stunning that I bought his recording of the Schubert C Minor Sonata and Moments musicaux (excellent) - and want to hear his other recordings of Schubert. I also got Alfred Brendel's recording of the Schubert Impromptus, which was supposed to be very fine, for comparison (Philips Duo).

At mid price, with digital recording, this CD is a steal.

I have the impromptus recorded individually or in complete sets by Lupu, Schnabel, Schiff, Rubinstein, as well as others I am sure.

This is the finest in my collection. The sound is crystal clear, and Lupus touch (especially on the G-Flat Major of Op. 90),is not of the realm of mere mortals. All of the others are lovely too, but I would agree with everyone else, Lupus is a must have. It fully lives up to the claim of a legendary recording by Decca.

For this record review, I plan to examine to a recording of the eight Schubert Impromptus, D899 and D935, performed by famed pianist Radu Lupu and recorded by Decca Records in 1982. This album has special significance to me as I have personally learnt and performed two of the tracks on the album. In my sophomore year of high school, I was studying the Schubert Impromptu in E Flat Major, a beautiful romantic piece structured in ABA format. It begins with a complex melodic run in Part A, and then changes courses completely, modulating into b minor in a stormy series of chords. Later, the piece recapitulates into the transparent and soothing melody of part A.

My piano teacher had a philosophy in music education that students should always begin learning a piece by understanding how it should be performed. Therefore, she would require me to listen to recordings of the experts: for Chopin, I listened to Rubinstein for inspiration, for Rachmaninoff, Van Cliburn; for Bach, Glenn Gould, and for Schubert, the legendary Radu Lupu.

I was immediately impressed by the quality of Radu Lupu's performance. He had taken such great care in combining his technical prowess with the emotion and subtlety required to carry a romantic piece. I appreciated (and tried hard to replicate) his nuanced use of the pedal and his careful inflection, as well his dramatic yet appropriately timed dynamic contrasts. Because I enjoyed the E Flat Major piece so much, I listened to the entire album, electing to study the a flat minor impromptu as one of my next pieces. I also particularly enjoyed the theme-and-variation Impromptu in B Flat Major and the Rondo-styled impromptu in f minor. All the pieces are performed with incredible technical felicity, yet demonstrate such passion. I quickly realized why my teacher had picked out this recording for me specifically.

The recording itself is of high quality. Clearly, care was taken in selecting a quality piano (probably a Steinway Grand) with the appropriate pure tone and resonance necessary to do justice to Schubert's romantic style. It also appears that the recording was done in a concert hall or large room with considerable reverberation effects in order to simulate a live performance. There was probably little mixing involved, as Radu Lupu was known for taking great pride in the authenticity of his recordings. I decided to experiment by listening to each speaker separately to determine whether the balance levels had been changed; I could not identify any significant difference between the sounds coming from each individual speaker. However, I must admit some bias here. Because I have a preset expectation of what the pieces are supposed to sound like, it is harder for me to determine subtle differences in the actual recording.

If you have a love for classical music from the romantic era, Schubert, or just incredible virtuosity, I highly recommend this album.

Schubert is something large and intimate at the same time. No matter how many times one could listen his impromptus, he will get back to them more and more. Brendel, Friere, Perahia, others played them so well, but Lupu is the one which stops heart.

It is well-known among music lovers and specialists alike - when speaking about classical Viennese school - that Radu Lupu is not only a mere flawless pianist able to extract other-worldly colours from his keyboard, but also an exquisite musician who masters the mystery of naturally conveying the most intimate feelings and thoughts of the composer. Giants like Mozart, Beethoven or his beloved Schubert (as is the case on this very recording) are wonderfully served by Lupu's skills. His unique and immediately recognizable approach - at the same time graceful and resolute, blending together subtle poetry and a deep sense of narration with a never-failing technical prow - works here with a distinctive charm and absolute efficiency. Each of these 8 Impromptus (D899 & D935) by Schubert seems perfectly suited for Lupu's refined musicianship, so that all of them appear like some velvety petals (yes, of slightly different shapes) designed to overlay one another as to offer finally the image of a fresh rose in the morning. Different they are, but belonging to a unique root of inspiration and sucking their melodious sap from the same soil of artistry.

In Lupu's hands, the well-known Impromptu No.3 in G flat major merely becomes a dreamy soaring over the hills of hope - so much serenity brings it to life, so intense the trance is. Listen then to No.4 in A flat major with its playful notes, like dew droplets, sprinkled with clever clarity and simplicity downward and upward on the keyboard. The effect is hair-raising, for at once the projected landscape of alternating melancholy and upsurge unfolds marvellously. No less No.7 in B flat major displays a vast amount of nuances, setting an overwhelming witty mood for a few good minutes. Poetic as it is, No.5 in F minor recreates a romantic affair with a delicate "voice" that speaks about expectations and promises. Useless to say that Radu Lupu knows perfectly how to keep a subtle balance between effects and feelings, phrasing wisely and dropping the right accents in the proper places, never stepping in the trap of cheap sentimentalism.

All in all, his rendition of the Impromptus on this legendary recording (preserved and remastered with a high quality sound by DECCA) represents, beyond any comment, a truly benchmark in Schubert interpretation for decades. Such moments of great music should not lack from the collection of any genuine music lover world over. Highly recommended!

"The poetry will endure while exits the problem of life and death. The gift of art is superior gift that allows to get into the unknown of before and the ignored of after, in the environment of dream or meditation. There's an ideal music as well as a verbal music. There aren't schools, there are poets. The real artist understands all the forms and finds the beauty bellow all them. All glory and eternity are in our consciousmess".

These admirable thoughts were written by Ruben Dario - the greatest Latin American poet ever born - so, taken in its entire context would seem to have been dedicated in Schubert's memory, but Schubert himself needs poets of the piano to transcend in the memory.

In hands of Radu Lupu, we may even rediscover the nestled lyricism, brilliantness, limpid performance and lyrical expressiveness focused from a new perspective, that 's why Lupu may be regarded as a true poet

These Impromptus still stand out as one of the best available musical documents recorded since the eighties. He created the required atmosphere, the perfect spell and the accurate expression to make these accords float in this priceless CD.

Without hesitation, this set must be included among the greatest ones; we are talking about Edwin Fisher, Arthur Schnabel, Paul Badura- Skoda, Andras Schiff Clifford Curzon and Rudolf Serkin.

in addition to what other reviewers said very well, just a remark regarding another version in comparison :

I have listened lately to the recordings of Alfred Brendel, it is so disappointing that i prefer no to play them anymore and consider Brendel as the fine Beethovenist that he can be.

A simple example is the impromptu op. 90 number 4. The sense of emergency is so incredible in the version of Lupu. It is like it was the very last time he could express himself at the piano. The vivid intensity of every tone will touch you to tears. In comparison, it is barely the same composition with Brendel. I would not say it is boring, but it is flat, it lacks inspiration. Brendel tends to executes mechanically the sheet of music.

Radu Lupu plays music in every instant. It is as simple as that.

The comparison shows an abyss between the two approaches.

Interesting though !

While this Decca "Legenary Performance" was recorded in 1982, it still stands as a pinnacle of Shubert pianism. Every guide I see rates it highly. After recently listening again to this disc twice though, I was moved by the poetic sweep of the music and could not point to anything that seemed out-of-place or in need of refinement. Lupu's touch just sounds right - dare say perfect - for the music. Lendendary is a fitting description of this recording whose sound is much more modern than the 80-'s recording date. Be part of music history and delve into the poetic world of Shubert given to us by this marvelous pianist so attuned to Schubert's lyrical story telling. This one is easy: Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound Quality - 4.5 stars.