Marc-André Hamelin – Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata D960 & Four Impromptus

Beskrivning

Den himmelska öppenheten i Schuberts sista pianosonat och andra den satsen i Impromptus fångar Hamelin med en briljans som andra pianister gör.

PERFORMANCE *****
RECORDING *****
”This is, rather surprisingly, Marc-André Hamelin’s first Schubert album—two of the composer’s greatest late piano works given enthralling accounts, beautifully recorded, but not without some controversial details.

In the B flat Sonata, Hamelin takes Schubert’s opening instruction Molto moderato to mean the broadest tempo, accentuating the first movement’s heavenly lengths and otherworldly qualities. His playing is stunningly beautiful with some wonderfully veiled timbres, particularly when the music modulates to distant keys. But did Schubert really intend us to hear this as a slow movement lasting well over 22 minutes—although Sviatoslav Richter is even slower, coming in at 24-and-a-half minutes—especially since the ensuing and poignant Andante sostenuto surely fullfils this specific function in the work’s overall structure?

The rest of the Sonata is much more compelling. Hamelin’s articulation of the Scherzo, for example, is wonderfully delicate and charming, and the way he achieves the necessary contrast in mood in the Trio with his strong projection of the bass notes is quite wonderful”.

//BBC Music Magazine