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

I. Allegro
- Part I : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyZg1RTS51Y
- Part II : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6CIAiGCOJM

II. Andantino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKdWbBnX3Uw

III. Scherzo - Allegro vivace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhVquc0grvg

IV. Rondo - Allegretto

~~~
The three piano sonatas numbered 958 in C minor, 959 in A major and 960 in B-flat major in Deutsch's catalogue of Franz Schubert's complete works are the composer's last major compositions for the piano, often referred to as Last Sonatas. They were written during the last months of Schubert's life, between the spring and autumn of 1828, but were not published until about ten years after his death, in 1838-39. Furthermore, like the rest of Schuberts piano sonatas, they were mostly neglected during the entire 19th century, and have only gradually achieved public appreciation, after more than 100 years since their composition.

Schubert probably began sketching the sonatas sometime around the spring months of 1828; the final versions were written in September. The final sonata was completed on September 26, and two days later, Schubert played from the sonata trilogy at an evening gathering in Vienna. In a letter to Probst (one of his publishers), dated October 2, 1828, Schubert mentioned the sonatas amongst other works he had recently completed and wished to publish. Probst was not interested in the sonatas and by November 19, Schubert was dead.

In the following year Schubert's brother Ferdinand sold the sonatas' autographs to another publisher, Anton Diabelli, who eventually published them about ten years later, in 1838 or 1839. Schubert intended the sonatas to be dedicated to Johann Nepomuk Hummel, whom he greatly admired. Hummel was a leading pianist, a pupil of Mozart, and a pioneering composer of the Romantic style (like Schubert himself). Hummel died before the sonatas were published, and Diabelli decided to dedicate them instead to composer Robert Schumann, who had praised many of Schubert's works in his critical writings.

Schumann, reviewed the works in his Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik in 1838, upon their publication. He seems to have been largely disappointed by the sonatas, criticizing their "much greater simplicity of invention" and Schubert's "voluntary renunciation of shining novelty, where he usually sets himself such high standards", and claiming the sonatas "ripple along from page to page as if without end, never in doubt as to how to continue, always musical and singable, interrupted here and there by stirrings of some vehemence which, however, are rapidly stilled".

Schumann's criticism seems to fit the general negative attitude maintained towards these works during the nineteenth century.

~

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Artur
• Schnabel
• Schubert
• D959
• Brendel
• Gieseking
• Rubinstein
• Serkin
• Ashkenazy
• Bolet
• Eschenbach
• Perahia
• Lupu
• Pollini

[prongated]

omg omg thanks SO much for posting this! I've been wishing all my (short) life to hear this...

[xper2xper]

;-) More than welcome! Keep up your piano work.

Cheers!

[EzequielAudiofilo]

Muchas gracias por suber este video. La grandiosa interpretación de Schnabel me has determinado a tomar clases de piano. Thank you very much for put this video on. The superb Schnabel interpretation determined me to attend piano lesson.

[posh1961]

@uptilthesky no doubt

[brianCIM]

@chwelvemaster Rubinstein didn't play this sonata. he recorded the B-flat sonata though.

[chwelvemaster]

@purpleoscar Have you heard Rubenstein's? I used to have a recording on a Hamburg Steinway that was fabulous. theoman

[femeimoderne]

this is the real music!

[brianCIM]

i enthusiastically concur uptil!

[musicpiano14]

I learn this movment, I love it most from all schubert works, I love other works too, but this one closest to my heart. I must say it is wounderfull performance, but not with all things I agree. This piece is shuberts life, you can see his youth here and also his last days . Hes hopes and his failliyars. Hes loves and hes suffernes from this felling.

[purpleoscar]

Great stuff.  I also like Brendel, and Pollini