Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960; in A Minor, D. 784; in C Major, D. 613

Featuring

Stephen Hough
Franz Schubert

Did you know?

1/7

Performer Biography

Stephen Hough, the pianist on this recording, was honored with a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship in 2001 for his originality and commitment to advancing knowledge.

Interpretation

The nine first-time bars (117-125) in the opening movement of the Sonata in B flat major have often been omitted by pianists, but Stephen Hough includes them, believing they are important.

Recording & Production

This recording presents Schubert's unfinished sonata fragments exactly as he left them, which the performer suggests is a metaphor for the composer's unfinished life.

Composition History

Schubert left many piano sonata fragments, ranging from nearly complete movements to mere sketches, some abandoned due to lack of inspiration or because they became too complex.

Composer Biography

Schubert, like Beethoven, suffered from a serious, debilitating physical ailment; Schubert had syphilis, while Beethoven experienced hearing loss.

Composition History

The Sonata in A minor, D784, was likely written around the time Schubert first learned of the seriousness of his illness.

Compositional Technique

Schubert's ability to transform the sunshine of a major key into a mood of heartbreak and pain is a notable aspect of his work, perhaps only equaled by Mozart.