Schubert: Piano Sonatas, D958, 959, 960

Franz [Vienna] Schubert (Composer), Murray Perahia (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Murray Perahia
• Composer: Franz [Vienna] Schubert
• Audio CD (May 13, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000996FC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,830 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mature, thoughtful, beautifully-wrought late Schubert, November 17, 2003

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Schubert: Piano Sonatas, D958, 959, 960 (Audio CD)

This is the second time that Perahia has recorded the middle of these three late sonatas, the well-loved Sonata in A, D. 959. I bought the 2 CD set primarily to hear what he might have to say some 13 years after the original recording. And I was concerned about his technical assurance after several years of physical problems with his hands. I needn't have worried on that account. If anything this reading is more olympian, more assured, more elegant. Earlier reviewers here have asked for more fire. Not I. I want these sonatas to sound like they were handed down from God--as they may have been, who knows?--and in that Perahia succeeds. Just listen to the final movement, the Rondo, of the A major sonata--the one made familiar to millions in an orchestrated version that was the themesong of the popular US sitcom, 'Wings.' I have never heard such songful playing from anyone--this includes Brendel, Goode, Uchida--which is certainly apt for Schubert, our most inspired writer of song melodies. When I got to that fourth movement I hit the repeat button and played it four times in a row, I was so enthralled. Coupled with that is the elfin leggiero of the movement preceding it--almost Mendelssohnian. This is spectacular playing AND spectacular thinking about this great music.

The less-familiar C minor sonata, D. 958--and it is less familiar because it is just a hairbreadth less heavenly than its successors--has a convincing case made for it by Perahia. He does this by emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the piece--'This is Important Stuff'--by de-emphasizing the corny Alberti-bass recurrences of the accompaniment, using a consistently full but rounded tone, and drawing our attention to the rock-solid formal construction. Hewn from granite, this music.

Many people's favorite Schubert sonata is the final Sonata in B flat major, D. 960. They need not fear that Perahia will distort or underplay its grandeurs. There is a temptation in this sonata to overemphasize the mystery presaged by that ominous low-bass G-flat trill in the opening measures. My own take on that trill, and those that follow it, is that they are primarily harmonic devices, preparing us for the way Schubert takes us far afield. Yes, they are mysterious but they become less and less so, even dying out without a whimper eventually. Perhaps this is a triumph of light over dark? Who knows what Schubert had in mind. As Perahia plays--in unfailingly beautiful tone, be it said--one is not made uneasy by all this, rather one is exalted--by the beauty of the themes, the odd rightness of the unusual harmonies, by the inevitability of the form; the latter is the kind of thing that makes you go 'Of COURSE!' when the form is finally laid out, but it is not easily predicted beforehand. The Andante sostenuto is, to my mind, the most Beethovenian of Schubert's slow movements, and it is given that kind of solemnity and substance by Perahia. The Scherzo that follows comes as an emotional relief from the seriousness of the Andante; Perahia is not often considered to be much of a jokester, but he makes this movement chuckle. The closing Rondo is played with a straight-face, but occasionally hears Perahia (and, of course, Schubert) smiling. And most of all, it dances. An unusually satisfying traversal.

I have liked Brendel's recordings, also Uchida's and Goode's. But at least for now these by Perahia are my favorites.

This 2 CD set has about 112 minutes of music--roughly the amount one would get these days on 1 1/2 CDs--and the price reflects that; that is, one pays about 1 1/2 times what one would pay for one full-price CD. One last word: the booklet notes by Charles Fisk are elegantly written and more informative than most.

Recommended without reservations.

Scott Morrison

59 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perahia & Schubert - an ideal match, May 20, 2003

By 

Alex Serrano (Perrysburg, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schubert: Piano Sonatas, D958, 959, 960 (Audio CD)

Over the past couple of years, the pianism of Murray Perahia has grown on me steadily. I was tempted to write a review on his outstanding account of the Chopin etudes, yet i am happy that i have waited until this release to offer my opinions. I beleive that after traversing through bach, beethoven, liszt, chopin, schubert is probably ideal for him, and his playing here is sublime and yet never over-sentimental.

Take for instance the opening of the final d960 sonata - here Perahia keeps a steady pace (just barely faster than most performances - but not too fast) yet allowing all ideas to come forth and distinguish themselves. At the same time, his pace allows the listener to connect the recurring themes throughout the 4 movements. And even though this maybe one of schubert's most introverted works, yet perahia never unerestimates its declmatory features even as quiet as they may be.

The preceeding 2 sonatas d958 and d959 are played with the same attention to detail, yet the approach is closer to beethoven with their wider range of dynamics and more virtuosity. In fact, Perahia here again allows the music to evolve naturally - the dynamics can be extreme, yes, but as played here they do not draw attention to themselves and rather seem a natural assertion of a continuing narrative.

Another issue here to single out is the beauty of the tone Perahia consistently shows in all his recordings - yet never as apparent and appropiate as it is in this schubert recording. This is the tone of someone who loves the music dearly - it glows, and is warm and never metallic - its always natural and always unassuming.

I recommend this recording and the pianist with no reservations.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Schubert for the thinking man, December 15, 2003

By 

chefdevergue (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Schubert: Piano Sonatas, D958, 959, 960 (Audio CD)

The late Schubert sonatas are to the pianist what the Bach Partitas & Sonatas are to the violinist --- works that cannot be approached casually, and which require a certain maturity on the part of the artist. With these recordings, Perahia demonstrates his continuing maturity as an artist in recent years.

Perahia allows the music to unfold on its own accord, something which is crucial for Schubert's late instrumental works. His tempi & dynamics are careful & measured, for he knows exactly what each sonata individually requires. The sometimes extreme dynamics of D959, for example, would be wildly out of place in D960. The 1st movement of D958 requires a very steady pace & crescendi that are gradual but not hurried. It is far too easy to let the tempo & dynamics get the better of the artist, but Perahia clearly has control over this.

Throughout all three sonatas, Perahia's tone is sustained and natural, of the most reflective & thoughtful nature. These performances certainly stand up favorably in comparison to the much-ballyhooed series of Uchida, as well as the classic Brendel recordings. This is a crucial recording for those who want to explore the full complexities & nuances of the late Schubert sonatas.