Schubert:
- The Late Piano Sonatas
Over the past several years I have admired and enjoyed Paul Lewis’ recordings. I like his sensitive phrasing, his excellent technique, and his ability to bring out the lyricism and often the sadness in Franz Schubert’s music.
On this CD, we hear him perform the following:
Schubert:
- Piano Sonata No. 14 in A minor, D784
- Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor, D958
- Piano Sonata No. 20 in A major, D959
- Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, D960
Performed by Paul Lewis (piano)
Early in 2011, Paul Lewis embarked on a two-year concert tour devoted to the works written by Franz Schubert in the last six years of his life. Now completed, Mr. Lewis has played in London, New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Melbourne, Rotterdam, Bologna, Florence and at the Schwarzenberg Schubertiade and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
To illustrate, here is Paul Lewis playing Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 20 in A Major, the slow movement titled “Andantino”. Schubert tells us of his sadness, his disappointment, and his lack of hope. Listen for Lewis’ ability to get to amazing pianissimos in the process:
And next, here is Paul Lewis in Schubert’s Piano Sonata No.21 in B-flat Major, D. 960; first movement, Molto moderato:
Tags: Franz Schubert, Paul Lewis, Sonatas, D 958, D959, D960
