UKC

I’ve been neglecting my CDs of Schubert’s piano music it seems, but seeing that one of his masterworks is to be performed next week in Kendal town hall I have been playing the work concerned today and for some reason been hearing it afresh. It is the middle one of the three last sonatas, D.959 and my disc of it is of a live Wigmore Hall performance by Jonathan Biss. And what a performance it is! Every movement is a perfect work in itself, but together, played by Biss, it somehow becomes greater than the sum of its parts. The second movement in particular is a real tear jerker and I feel that it reflects the still young  composer’s knowledge that he would shortly die. Somehow, though, the next movement, a scherzo, seems full of joy.

The performance is next Wednesday Jan 22 at 1 pm in Kendal town hall. Ten quid well spent I’d say.

In reply to Rog Wilko:

That andantino goes completely wild: Schubert cursing his impending death. My interpretation of the last seven bars of the andantino is that they represent Charon rowing across the Styx. F sharp minor is a very melancholy key, and was also used to great effect by Beethoven in the Adagio of his Hammerklavier sonata (which is a about as bleak as they come).

In reply to Rog Wilko:

Saw the brilliant Paul Lewis perform the last three sonatas in Birmingham last year. Epic emotional journey. Since Xmas I've been working my way through the recent box set of his recordings of all the mature Schubert solo piano works.

In reply to John Stainforth:

Exactly my thoughts. But how can he then produce a scherzo which must be one of the most joyous pieces of all time?

In reply to Andy Clarke:

You lucky man! Several of my Schubert CDs are by Paul Lewis. Never heard him playing in the flesh, but his discs are exceptional.

In reply to Rog Wilko: Now that my CDs are in the attic I enjoy streaming different performances of the same work. I’ll listen to your recommendation when I get home. Currently listing to BBC R3 Mahler third symphony in campervan on Anglesey

In reply to kevin stephens:

Mahler wrote a symphony in a campervan on Anglesey . . . . . . . . ?
 

Wow !

In reply to coinneach:

Yes. It's a bit insular!

In reply to coinneach:

Don’t be daft. However Song of a Wayfarer very possibly

In reply to Andy Clarke:

Talking of Schubert boxed sets, I've just finished listening to his complete sacred works with Sawallisch and the Bavarian RSO and Choir. Wonderful music, from his teenage settings of the Kyrie to his last magnificent Mass in E flat major. 

In reply to Rog Wilko:

I have to confess that Cordelia Williams was unknown to me until today’s Kendal Midday Concert Club recital. The main attraction of the programme was Schubert’s D959 sonata. Her fearless performance of this huge work was very impressive but, more importantly brought out the extraordinary pathos of the work. Although she threw everything into the more forte writing the intensely moving quieter passages were achingly poignant. A memorable event. As always, I am in awe of performers who can play such a programme without a note of written music.