Maria Yudina plays Schubert Sonata in B flat major, D.960

[wnxg4nd4lf]

I don't understand what's wrong with playing this in a "mournful" manner. It actually is a very dark piece. Not to mention that the contrast between the dark and light parts will be even greater and more delightful and in a way more meaningful.

[uhartchristian]

I don t think we can use the word depressiv here. there we should replace this ugly word with "hope" and desire and a prayer .... by the way I think Schubert had depressiv moments in his life....

[MrAam1964]

This version by Maria Yudina is simply the most radical and dramatic version ever recorded. The Sviatoslav Richter version is to be highly recommended too in a better recording transfer though.

[carolineindenver]

I simply adore this rendition, the pauses between the notes give me time to savor..................

[katiush65]

this is beautiful, I heard it played in the documentary "Richter the Enigma" and did not know what it was. Lately I have become interested in Schubert's last sonatas, not thinking I heard any of them. Thank you for uploading, remarkable performance.

[vkoracx]

you are right -music is supposed to transcendent all time and situation but do not forget the performing artists

they have their own personality which is expressed through the performance , (I mean all the great artists have something original and unconventional as you know and that is how we recognize them) , something it gets very "strong" and dominates the work and it is a narrow line between interesting and unacceptable that depends on the persons taste as well..I

[liekalieka]

I love this. She's the pianist, and she is going to play it however she wants. Why get upset about whether it is correct stylistically? There are plenty of other stylistically correct recordings.

[tzjc24]

I think depression and sadness is as good as any emotion for music to try and express, and certainly don't have a problem with people playing in a sad style. I think this piece, particularly in the tempo it is played here, really captures sadness and resignation, and whenever music can so perfectly capture an emotion, that is a beautiful thing, and shouldn't be avoided.

[Manunju]

...out of this world...for me it does it...touches the depths of Schubert like no other to me known recording of this sonata - thank you Truecrypt.

[leomulder]

This is not Andante, this is Grave.

[cynic150]

deadly slow! Too depressing. I don't think Schubert meant it to be like that, limping along in such a desperate and mournful manner, with no hope or light?

[truecrypt]

@cynic150

You are absolutely correct! Schubert probably didn't mean this music to be performed this way... I recall Yudina's answer to the question why she played a piece (don't remember what) so slowly and tragically... Her answer was - "but it is a WAR outside" - it was during the WWII. Yudina was not an ordinary artist and can't be judged by common standards.

When you get tired of "generic" Schubert come back and listen again. There is something cathartic in her interpretation...

[cynic150]

@truecrypt I know what you mean, but isn't music supposed to transcend all time and situation, otherwise the true essence of the message becomes lost. This should uplift us not give in to depression. Richter did the same thing with this.

[truecrypt]

@cynic150

God only knows what music suppose to do...

As for "the true essence", - of course we all (I mean performers) try to express it to the best of our abilities. The problem is that, as Oscar Wild said: "The truth is rarely pure and never simple.."

Tragic and depressing can be very "uplifting" (cathartic) and in this sense Yudina didn't break the "law of truth" here. She had the reason to play like that and was courageous enough to do it...

[LukeK79]

@truecrypt The middle section expresses both hope, light and resolve, with an appropriate rise in tempo. I too find the outer sections amazingly slow; but imagine this interpretation played over footage of Auschwitz and the intention becomes terribly clear.

[ellandelachapelle]

@truecrypt Right. But some people prefer "Always look on the bright side of life!" ( tralalalala.) I just had a message from Franz here. (wait a minute.) He says "I LOVE this version. Every note opens up Heaven!" : O)

[vkoracx]

@cynic150

I personally like her interpretation of this work,for me it stays musical and interesting as opposed to some people here who called her "psychotic"

As for the composer himself-don't worry,Schuberts music will stay transcendental and eternal through all kinds of performances and pianists:)

[100pbl6ok]

@cynic150

Thank God she did this in this very manner. It's utterly beautiful. If there was no such "mournful" pieces of music written and performed, the world would be most standard boredom one could ever imagine... THAT would be real depressing in true sense of the word.

[lovesGenet]

Getting to know this player more and more. Her affect and effect live must have been incredible .

[LovableChicken]

@truecrypt :on the contrary, by writing in Russian you aroused curiosity and admiration for your linguistic skills. Thankfully we have Google Translator protocols.

Thank you for the Music.

[Lactoris1]

I wonder if this movement is related to any of Schubert's songs? He often adapted them instrumentally. It reminds me of a twentieth century song with words by Noel Coward "I''ll see you again Whenever spring breaks thru again" - I don't know the composer of that song melody.

[terrygowork]

This is amazing performance of Schubert. The bubble that someone mentioned allows the sorrow to sink in to you. Why cant you feel it?

[SlyFox616]

incredibly poetic

[Nogah100]

Pity that the recording is old.... For I find the playing very impressive, the rubato, the emotionality in general, beautiful.

I am very pleased to make my first acquaintance of Yudina..

[berlinzerberus]

...dass die künstler der heutigen zeit nicht komponieren,deutet nicht die grenze der künstler an,sondern ist leider ein wenig schmeichelndes etikett,das durch den allgemeinen niedergang der kultur anhängt.

letztendes reden wir hier über kosmetische dinge,geschmacksrichtungen,kle­ine oder größere sünden.

werktreue ist irgendwie allen großen Persönlichkeiten zu eigen,wenn auch durch die brille der kraft ihrer persönlichkeit betrachtet.

[caijpp]

Yudina's playing is not her image from a cosmetic mirror. We are not seeing a ghostly reflection, but the real ghost itself, and she has brought it to life. She has brought herself to life through the music of Schubert, and without her turning real first, Schubert will never become real, for unto what would Schubert project himself? Schubert would have no life without Yudina. Art is about how an artist projects his/her own life through the medium that he/she chooses, so in this case, Schubert.

[berlinzerberus]

die diskussion über die neue sachlichkeit und den antiromantizismus ist nicht neu,aber sie bringt nicht viel,da ich der meinung bin,dass alle großen pianisten wahrhafte persönlichkeiten sind und in wahrheit sich richter nicht von rachmaninoff unterscheidet.

er ist nur in deine andere zeit hineingeboren worden.

[berlinzerberus]

...there is a slip in 0:48 [score----->wrong chord]

nevertheless the flowing chord-melodie of the andante sostenuto is played quite nice...i prefer part b a bit "piu andante".

[caijpp]

This really does make me laugh...

[caijpp]

Now I don't know where to put this! Favoritng it is far from enough....

[toakreon]

I'm sorry to sow a note of discord among the praise, but even though this is a slow movement, it does need some dynamic to it. This performance is just TOO slow - it's becoming laboured. Listen to Vladimir Ashkenazy play it - honestly, it's better.

[ClassicalMusicReview]

Dear Toak,You're killing me.I've listened and enjoyed Ashkenazy frequently for decades,but never heard him utter meaning like this.This movement and it's expression is in between the notes.

[toakreon]

Then we'll have to differ. You hear meaning between the notes and I hear a dirge.

[ClassicalMusicReview]

Yes,a dirge it is...and in this dirge a whole universe of compassion more beautiful and optimistic for humanity than the freshest spring garden...something that music can't easily communicate but she did.

[toakreon]

No. Just a dirge. The beauty, the compassion, the meaning of the piece sacrificed on the alter of wallowing sentimentality.

[caijpp]

Dear Toakreon, you are exactly right. She is sacrificing here. She sacrificed the most sacred, the most profane. "Wallowing sentimentality"- yes, that's exactly how we pay back....you don't realize that you just saved mankind. You are a savior.

[toakreon]

Perhaps I detect just the TINIEST hint of irony, caijpp?

[caijpp]

No. Just the truth. Why would I sacrifice the beauty, the power, the meaning of expression in an ironic dirge? In every respect, I am a purist.

[ClassicalMusicReview]

Dear Toak,If you mean by 'sentimentality'...a whole realm of existences which scare the hell out of you and constrain you to 'wallow' in left-brained mechanical denial of all but surface...then yes by god...it's 'sentimental'

[toakreon]

But that's where we differ CMR. There is no "whole realm of existences". There is nothing to scare you, or to move you. All you have is "for God's sake, woman - GET ON WITH IT".

[ClassicalMusicReview]

Dear Toak,She is 'getting on with it'...in ways that are so very profound beyond sound and occupation.We're in infinity where there is no place wither,but for now you can't hear it or see it in your mind's eye.Oh well (Ö!Ö(

[toakreon]

To hear it or see it it has to be there in the performance, not just in the mind of the listener.

[ClassicalMusicReview]

It's impossible to seperate perception from projection.If you can't see it...admittedly it's not there.

[christophleipzig]

I cannot find any Schubert left in this recording. Just Miss Yudina.

[truecrypt]

Dear christophleipzig;

Below is a reply from ClassicalMusicReview.

YT is "acting up" today, - so I'm just a messenger:

[truecrypt]

"Dear Christoph,

You are absolutely correct. No Schubert here or anywhere else after he died. Just relics of note sequences which are but a dessicated sarcophagus sans dimension. The idea that a 'partitur' could reflect a composer's state of mind is an anachronistic abstraction of late 19th century Conservatory Anti-Romanticism later adopted by the Arte-Deco age as gospel. But THAT idea that has ZERO to do with Schubert or the performance practice of him or his time.

[truecrypt]

The only authenticity in performance are the ideas and state of mind that the artist uses to re-animate a dead mono-dimensional 'partitur'. Maria gave that in much greater degree than anyone else on YouTube in this piece. No Schubert here...just artistic authenticity and correct historic performance practice."

[christophleipzig]

Well. I didn't said, that I find Miss Yudina's performance bad - but, well - I have the score in front of me and I am even more attached by the recording of Richter - he is not that far away from Yudina, but plays more "straight forward" and actually just what is written. I am just a bit allergic, if someone stops at each measure, creates bubbles in time.

Richter plays, what's there AND has huge expression.

[christophleipzig]

But again: I am quite sure, that Yudina was verrry impressive as well. But I guess, I don't have the right blood for that.

[ClassicalMusicReview]

Dear Christoph,I certainly take no offense if this is not your taste.I support your dissent here.But I dislike the frequent suggestion here that she is out of context in her reading of this as that is the application of 20th century musicology which is not at all the performance practice of Schubert's time.

Alles Beste wünsche ich Ihnen,Smith

[ClassicalMusicReview]

Dear Christoff,I think that Richter imitates Yudina but makes it more palatable for many by his adoptation of modern Arte Deco phrase characteristics.Your notion of 'measure' and time is very 'unSchubert' era as it is so mechanized,quantified,and pressured.Actually to 'play what's there' is an unintended backhanded insult at an authentically non-historical performance practice of treating the score as the body of Christ.

[christophleipzig]

Hehe. Body of Christ - Yudina definitely made the sign of the cross before the play. ;)

But what I want to say: I don't totally disagree with you. But as I say, my mentality (I said blood) just fits better to Mr. Richter's performance.

And in general: Am I right, that this is a live performance? This would be again something else: Her appearance must have been verrry strong.

And: I agree totally, that Richter was influenced by Yudinas Schubert.

[pjioayncoe]

When is it recorded?

[truecrypt]

August 13, 1947

[veseli601]

BEAUTIFUL!!

[Mortimer123]

What unfathomable beauty and depth!

[laqin007]

She plays beaitufully

i never forget Richter's way of playing though...

[PhillipLWilcher]

One of the most poignantly poetic examples where music alone suspends time to embrace that which we cannot see : eternity.

[alex7700585]

She so effortlessly achieves that quality of "time standing still" required for this movement. I've only heard it before with Schnabel and Fleischer.

[eliasbb]

i agree. i think that was a special quality of her playing. you hear it too in the second movement of the italian concerto, also posted on you tube.

[Brianjonestown]

Yudina's is closest to Richter, who took it even slower with perhaps the most inventive and moving reading.

[Alessandro1985]

she's wonderful. Stalin had good ears!

[weikko79]

How about uploading the first part of the sonata as well? I think that's one of the greatest performances of that part ever recorded.

[truecrypt]

OK! Will do! ;)

[liokuokwai]

divine.

[GetMeThere1]

Hearing this (and your other Yudina's, truecrypt) makes me wonder how different my life would have been if I had heard it when I was younger.

Hearing her is life-changing (renewing).

[chad410]

i think she is a spritual person playing for the gods.

[truecrypt]

she would be happy to hear it...

But it was her gift to you! ;)

[chad410]

I am a god? loll

[smithsherman]

I think that she was god...playing for spiritual people...

[smithsherman]

Part 2.I feel Richter automatically becomes a "spearhead of "sound-focus".Very Masculine.

I feel she is surrounding this music like a loving mother.Very Feminine.Here she is more modern.Compare with her older-style Amadeus.

[smithsherman]

Dear Jos, I take you're point on the overall idealogy of her approach.If you want to compare O.K.Richter focuses on notes to create intensity.She does it by an "inverse" process of manipulating spaces & space-implication.

[smithsherman]

In the "A" movements I found the con to be a kind of deadening predictability of phrase.The pros are I've never heard anyone shape spaces in between so carefully.

She's a poet of the great Void.The "B"

Movement distinguishes itself through an unusual tone that is a "Wet-Semi-Staccato",& of course moving dynamics.

[suzettegm]

Well Smith, since you ask (I'm not that much of a commenter)in a way(not evrything) she reminds me of the great Richter.Not adding much of herself but letting the music speak for itself.A rather "intellectual" approach maybe. And the same like with Richter: you like it or just not(I do)