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

Part III
Schubert: Sonata B-flat Major, D 960
2. Andante sostenuto

Category:

Music

Tags:

• schubert
• yudina
• piano
• classical

[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...

[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

[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....

[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)

[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.

[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.