Franz Schubert - Piano Sonatas Nos. 9, 15 & 18 (Sviatoslav Richter)

Information

Composer: Franz Schubert

CD1:

1. Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, D. 894: 1. Molto moderato e cantabile
2. Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, D. 894: 2. Andante
3. Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, D. 894: 3. Menuetto (Allegro moderato)
4. Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, D. 894: 4. Allegretto

CD2:

1. Piano Sonata No. 9 in B major, D. 575 (Op. posth. 147): 1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Piano Sonata No. 9 in B major, D. 575 (Op. posth. 147): 2. Andante
3. Piano Sonata No. 9 in B major, D. 575 (Op. posth. 147): 3. Scherzo (Allegretto)
4. Piano Sonata No. 9 in B major, D. 575 (Op. posth. 147): 4. Allegro giusto
5. Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major, D. 840 - "Relique": 1. Moderato
6. Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major, D. 840 - "Relique": 2. Andante
7. Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major, D. 840 - "Relique": 3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
8. Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major, D. 840 - "Relique": 4. Rondo (Allegro)

Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Date: 1966 (D. 575), 1979 (D. 840), 1989 (D. 894)
Label: Philips
reissue by Decca as "Richter the Master Vol. 5"
http://www.deccaclassics.com/de/cat/4758616

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Review

Of the great Schubert players of the twentieth century -- Schnabel, Brendel, Lupu, Kovacevich, and Richter -- Richter was arguably the greatest. Because while the rest each had their own individual merits, Schnabel's spirit, Lupu's poetry, Brendel's brilliance, and Kovacevich's soul, Richter combined all of these and added aching lyricism, wild fantasy, sublime grace, and almost super-human power to create a heroic Schubert of visionary strength and genius. In these three sonatas, all of them among the lesser known of the Austrian composer's works, the Russian pianist finds more music, and better music, than any other pianist. His massive G major D. 894 recorded in London on March 20, 1989, finds heights, depths, and especially breadths in the opening Molto moderato e cantabile that none before him had suspected; his lighter B major D. 575 recorded in Florence on June 12, 1966, rides with irresistible joy through its racing closing Allegro giusto; his unfinished C major "Reliquie" D. 840 recorded in Salzburg on November 27, 1979, surpasses its uncompleted status to achieve a transcendent state of terror and bliss. Along with his elfin A major Sonata recorded in Paris in 1963 and his magisterial B flat major Sonata recorded in Aldeburgh in 1964, these three recordings belong on every shelf of Schubert's piano music. It should be noted that although the disc lists all three performances as having been recorded in 1979, the distinctly different sound of each argues against it, and a glance at Richter's discography disproves it.

-- James Leonard, AllMusic

More reviews:
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/aug/24/classicalmusicandopera.shopping1
http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-Richter-The-Authorised-Recordings/dp/B00000416W
http://www.amazon.com/Richter-Master-Vol-Schubert-Sonatas/dp/B000PY302Q

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Franz Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer who was extremely prolific during his short lifetime. His output consists of over six hundred secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of chamber and piano music. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers of the late Classical era and early Romantic era and is one of the most frequently performed composers of the early nineteenth century. His music is characterized by pleasing tunes while still has "a great wealth of technical finesse".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Schubert

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Sviatoslav Richter (March 20 [O.S. March 7] 1915 – August 1, 1997) was a Soviet pianist known for the depth of his interpretations, virtuoso technique, and vast repertoire. He is considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Having learned the fundamentals of music from his father, Richter taught himself the piano and had already given public concerts before entering the Moscow Conservatory in 1937. Richter probably had the largest discography but he disliked the recording process, and most of Richter's recordings originate from live performances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sviatoslav_Richter

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sviatoslav-richter-mn0000818152/biography

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