Schubert completed his Piano Sonata in A-Major in July 1819, and it was dedicated to Josephine von Koller of Steyr in Upper Austria, whom he considered to be “very pretty” and “a good pianist”.
The lyrical, typically poignant nature of this sonata fits the image of a young Schubert in love, living in a summery Austrian countryside, which he also considered to be “unimaginably lovely”.
The A major sonata is straightforward, with a wonderful melodic opening. It was the first of Schubert’s piano sonatas where the sonata form as perfected by his idol, Beethoven, does not seem wrestled with; rather, it is a “joyous breakthrough”, a carefree triumph over strict rules of musical construction.
Here is Sviatoslav Richter to perform this music for you:
