Kissin Performs:
This sonata by Franz Schubert is unusually long. It is also unique in that it is played at a very fast tempo. And the composer wanted it played that way, because in this sonata, both the first and third movements are marked with the term “vivace”. Even the slower second movement is marked with “con moto”, meaning “with movement”.
The titles of the four movements are:
I. Allegro vivace
II. Con moto
III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace – Trio
IV. Rondo: Allegro moderato
The second theme of the first movement resembles the opening melody of one of the songs Schubert also composed while staying in Bad Gastein, Austria. On occasion, this sonata is therefore called “Gasteiner” (German for ‘originating in Gastein’.)
While the slower second movement is more serious than the first, the entire sonata presents considerable challenges to the pianist both from a technical and interpretive perspective. That is likely the reason why this work is not heard all that often.
Here is one amazing pianist performing this work. His name is Evgeny Kissin:
And next, here is Franz Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major, D. 850 “Gasteiner”(1825), fourth movement ‘Rondo’, played by Maria Prokofieva:
Tags: Franz Schubert, piano Sonata #17, D 859, Gasteiner, Evgeny Kissin, Maria Prokofieva
