Customer Reviews

Schubert: Impromptus For Piano

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It gets a bit confusing now that Sony and BMG are merged--these recordings of the eight Schubert Impromptus originaly apeared on Sony in 1990. They were greeted rapturously by critics, and one can immediately hear why. Murray Perhaia was at the absolute peak of his art, giving us a magical blend of alert rhythms, inner bitalaity, sparkling fingerwork, and an instinctive feeling for Schubert's melodies.

Now you can get these performances ar mid-price on BMG, and the CD is generously filled out (76 min.) with Schubert song transcriptions by Liszt. Those are later recordings, by hwich time Perahia had become tamer an more cautious, but they are still beautifully done.

Murray Perahia is one of the most lyrical pianists of our time. In his hands, the "Schubert Impromptus" album is quite possibly the definitive interpretation of these equally lyrical piano works by Franz Schubert. His delicate playing of the shifting minor and major keys and modulations makes the listener pause to absorb every nuance and phrasing.

Listen to how he plays the middle part of the Impromptu Op. 90 No. 1 in C-minor and the more popular Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4 in A-Flat. The piano sings at his touch and how! Then there's the Impromptu in G-Flat, my personal favorite and one which I have endeavored hard to play. This is one of the highlights of the album, and Perahia's playing is fantastic. The delicate tone which he coaxes out of the piano is one of sheer beauty.

In my books, Murray Perahia is in the same class as Artur Rubinstein, the definitive interpreter of Chopin. This collection of Schubert Impromptus is a gift from Mr. Perahia to those who know how to appreciate beautiful piano music. I am proud to have this album in my collection.

I own recordings by Brendel, Andras Schiff, and others of the Impromptus. Perahia's recording is still my favorite - honest, direct, sensitive, yet powerful.

I am going to review the music and not the performance. Unless you're Rubinstein or rachmaninov I find it pointless to criticize a pianist, particularly one as good as Murray Perahia.
I am somewhat biased because i have played these impromptus for a long time, but I've found few other pieces which combine the grace, romance, introspection and simplicity of the impromptus. Op. 90, no. 3 is my favorite. It modulates - and ondulates - from major to minor keys with beautiful bass accents expressing an overall melancholy mood that reminds me of the Andante from Mozart's Piano concerto no. 21 (also available by Perahia) and a Chopin Nocturne, though perhaps expressing more depth than the latter. Schubert unfortunately died in Beethoven's shadow though his music is no less important. Enjoy these hidden treasures of music. i also recommend Schubert's Fantasia for 2 hands (made famous ny the film Sunshine). Wunderschon!

I own five other versions but this recording, more than the others, posseses from first note to last a sense of rightness that overshadows the competition. Pehaps Perahia's best single recording.

Perahia has a great touch, wonderful sound and exquisite phrasing. Brendel's version though not as versatile as Perahia's has an extra flavour, more mature perhaps, more 'Viennese'.

This is the first Perahia recording I obtained. It is one of the most valued recordings I own in an extensive collection. From this recording alone, I concluded that Perarhia is one of the great pianists of his generation. I intend to obtain other recordings of his and expect to conclude that he is one of the great pianists of the century.

Schubert's Impromptus are among my favourite piano music pieces. Murray perahia is a pianist that I have singled out for years when buying piano music and in this CD he does not disappoint. He has strength and feeling and is not the "athletic" pianist that seem to be the vogue these days. Schubert and Perahia are a combination to savour and enjoy.

I listened to Murray Perahia play one of the pieces on this CD in person. This CD is one of the best purchases I have made in life.

I am only an amateur music lover and speaking as one. This CD contains some of the most charming and beautiful music ever composed, superbly played by a true master of the piano. Poetic, fluid, pensive, heart-touching, you name it. If you are new to classical music, this will convert you, I guarantee.

As others here have indicated, Schubert's Impromptus are truly golden. At first, I thought I just liked them. Once I heard the Perahia recording, however, they shot to the top of my list of favorite works. Like a previous reviewer, this album is never far from the top of my listening pile.

As far as other interpretations go, I'm not sure I've heard a bad recording of these pieces. But none other impacts me as much as Perahia's. Uchida's is only a step behind, but Lupu's doesn't compare (he gets in the way of the music a bit too much for my liking).

Pay particular attention to the F minor Impromptu D935 No. 1--absolutely gorgeous in Perahia's hands.

Given how well Perahia plays these eight Schubert Impromptus, I sure wish he would record the D946 'Drei Klavierstucke' as well. These 11 pieces represent some of the greatest piano music ever written.