Schubert's three last piano sonatas (D. 958, D. 959, and D. 960) were composed in September 1828, just months before his death at age 31.
Composer Biography
Franz Schubert wrote 130 pieces for solo piano or piano duet, but he never owned a piano himself due to frequent moves and financial difficulties.
Critical Reception
Schubert's last three piano sonatas (D. 958, D. 959, and D. 960) were overlooked for the entire 19th century.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Schubert's final works, including these sonatas, offer a sense of an inaccessible serenity, a place where humanity can be truly intimate.
Recording & Production
This recording was made at the Protestant Lutheran Church of Bon-Secours in Paris, with the Sonata No. 21 recorded in October 2020 and the 3 Klavierstücke in September 2016.
Compositional Technique
Schubert's piano music, unlike Beethoven's, uses subtle modulations and transpositions to illuminate repeated motifs, creating "heavenly length" as described by Schumann.
Performer Biography
Denis Pascal, the pianist on this recording, is known for his unconventional approach to the piano repertoire and his dedication to championing less familiar composers and works.
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