Artur Schnabel plays Schubert Sonata D959 in A major (II)

[hashalibi]

This is really a wonderful piece. Thanks.

[Raggedy9]

A wonderful subtlety in this movement is how Schubert repeats the opening F# minor phrase in A major, without altering a note of the melody. Pure genius.

[cabottobac]

Schnabel's Schubert is superb and my favorite of all pianists I have herd to date.

Stephen Kovacevich is very good and well worth listening to.

[morinoroba]

Really great performance....

[DMAL1234]

This is such an intimate portrait of sadness. He really plays gestures.

[purpleoscar]

Very nice

[TheHenrylaycock]

@purpleoscar - Very Nice? Do you think you would also say at the end of the Hallelijah Chorus? Just curious!

[xper2xper]

@TheHenrylaycock

Hi there! Could you please explain what you mean exactly?

Cheers!

[TheHenrylaycock]

@xper2xper The most common meaning of 'nice' I believe is roughly 'pleasant' or 'agreeable'. A work which probes the depths of the human soul might seem to call for terminology having rather less superficial connotations.

[xper2xper]

@TheHenrylaycock

Clear now, thanks.

To my taste, Schnabel's rendition is out of this world. His sound in this sonata is unbelievable, with all those details he is focusing on. Just see how the left hand contributes to the drama of this Andantino, which becomes an ordinary accompaniment in lots of other renditions.

Although there're quite a few wonderful pianists around, none seems to create the atmosphere Schnabel is capable of, in D959.

At least, as I said, to my taste...

Cheers!

[TheHenrylaycock]

@xper2xper - Thank you for this illuminating remark. Perhaps you are unduly modest? Your taste seems very good if I may say so [i.e. discerning of what is of real value].

[purpleoscar]

@TheHenrylaycock Simply that this is a good version in comparison to many.

[TheHenrylaycock]

@purpleoscar But you see, I don't believe that it is 'relatively good' at all; I believe that it is absolutely good, and indeed quite outstandingly so.

[purpleoscar]

@TheHenrylaycock It is a great version. There is a lot of competition here and my favorites are Brendel (1989) and Pollini. Of course one can own them all. ;)

[stratisofthesea]

The best interpretation ever