Of Schubert’s 12 complete solo piano sonatas, only three saw publication during the composer’s lifetime – the Sonata in G, D. 894 being the last one.
Eclipsed by Beethoven’s work in this same medium, Schubert’s sonatas fell into obscurity for nearly a century before being recovered by pianists and audiences.
The G-major Sonata of 1826 was hailed by Schumann as being Schubert’s “most perfect in form and conception.” Ironically, it was first published in 1827 as Fantasie, Andante, Menuetto und Allegretto, Op. 78 – a publisher’s decision, perhaps to make the music more commercially appealing as a collection of individual pieces rather than one large composition. Decades later it would still be referred to as the “Fantasia” Sonata.
Here is pianist Alfred Brendel who will play this sonata for you:
