Music of Schubert
Schubert:
- Fantasie in C major, D760 ‘Wanderer’
- 4 Impromptus, D935
- Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor, D845
- Moments Musicaux (6), D780, Op. 94
- Allegretto in C minor, D915
Performed by Paul Lewis, piano
Paul Lewis is today regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation. He is also the first pianist in the history of the BBC Proms to have played the complete Beethoven concertos in a single season (2010).
He appears as a guest in the most prestigious concert halls and with the foremost orchestras and enjoys a privileged relationship with London’s Wigmore Hall, where he has performed more than 50 times.
Early in 2011, Paul Lewis embarked on a two-year concert tour devoted to the works written by Schubert in the last six years of his life. When this is completed, he will have played in London, New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Melbourne, Rotterdam, Bologna, Florence and at the Schwarzenberg Schubertiade and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
I have enjoyed the great sensitivity of Mr. Lewis’ playing. This music is performed quite frequently now, and I always explore what new dimension the performing artist brings to Schubert’s compositions. I always find some new voice, or a wonderful new message in Mr. Lewis’ playing.
Here is what the Sunday Times wrote, 7th October 2012:
“outstanding performances…He is dazzling in the brilliant passages (wonderful F minor and B flat impromptus). Even more important, he finds a beautiful glow for those quintessential Schubert moments of deep, sad stillness.”
CD 1 has a reading of the four Impromptus D. 935, the earlier four from D. 899 having appeared on last year’s release. His aim seems to be to show us that this set of Impromptus can be approached almost as a unified sonata, a point first made by composer Robert Schumann.
CD 2 begins with Schubert’s Sonata no. 16 in A minor. The A minor sonata dates to May, 1825, when Schubert was 28. He would die four years later, but those years saw an enormous leap in the scale and ambition of his piano writing.
Here is Paul Lewis in Franz Schubert’s Impromptu no. 2 D935 (wonderful)
And next here’s Lewis performing Schubert’s Klavierstücke in E flat Major D946 no.2
Tags: Franz Schubert, Fantasie, Impromptus, Piano sonata