Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart :: Artur Schnabel - Scholar of the Piano [Box Set]

"The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pa

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 05/18/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After 9 years of study with Theodor Leschetizky, 16-year-old Artur Schnabel had his world concert premiere in Berlin, Germany. He continued to perform publicly on both sides of the Atlantic for the rest of his life. Besides interpreting the masters, Schnabel also composed (3 symphonies, 5 string quartets, etc.). None of his rigidly atonal works are popular or currently being played.





On EMI's ARTUR SCHNABEL - SCHOLAR OF THE PIANO, gentle filtering is employed to eliminate the worst surface imperfections of these 60 to 80 year old 78 rpm discs. Some swish and hiss remains but there's no ticks or pops. Higher frequencies (when present) haven't been badly impacted. (Surprisingly, the later tracks contain the most aural flaws.)



All were recorded at London's Abbey Road studio. The earliest is from 1932, the most recent were made a year before Schnabel's 8/51 death at age 69. Despite a prodigious output (he was first to record all 32 Beethoven sonatas), Schnabel found the recording process intimidating and often suffered from nervous tension.



The eight CDs comprising this superb collection feature the German composers Schnabel was most devoted to: Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert. On Bach's second concerto for two pianos and the Mozart two piano concerto, Karl Ulrich Schnabel accompanies his father.



Discs are stored in individual card stock sleeves. Included in the compact laminated heavy paper outer box is a 28 page booklet that provides session data and a Bernard Jacobson essay printed in English, German and French.





PROGRAM--



DISC ONE - BACH

[3:36] Prelude & Fugue No.5 in E - Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1 BWV850 - (6/13/50)

[11:08] Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue in D minor BWV903 - (6/15,16/48)

[16:56] Italian Concerto in F BWV971 - (11/11/38)

[10:39] Toccata in C minor BWV 911 - (11/24/37)

[11:42] Toccata in D BWV 912 - (11/24/37)

[19:06] Concerto No.2 in C for two pianos BWV 1061 - (10/28/36)

TOTAL TIME: 68:41



DISC TWO - BEETHOVEN

[18:38] Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor Op.13 - 'Pathetique' - (4/23/34)

[13:40] Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor Op.27 #2 - (4/23/34)

[21:13] Piano Sonata No.15 in D Op.28 'Pastorale' - (2/17/33)

[24:08] Piano Sonata No.21 in C Op.53 'Waldstein' - (4/25/34)

TOTAL TIME: 77:52



DISC THREE - BEETHOVEN

[22:07] Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor Op.57 'Appassionata' - (4/11/33)

[15:08] Piano Sonata No.26 in E flat Op.81a 'Les Adieux' - (4/13/33)

[40:40] Piano Sonata No.29 in B flat Op.106 'Hammerklavier' - (9/3,4/35)

TOTAL TIME: 78:10



DISC FOUR - BEETHOVEN

[12:24] Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor Op.90 - (1/21 & 2/3/32)

[20:29] Piano Sonata No.30 in E Op.109 - (3/22/32)

[18:28] Piano Sonata No.31 in A flat Op.110 - (1/21/32)

[26:02] Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor Op.111 - (1/21 & 3/21/32)

TOTAL TIME: 77:45



DISC FIVE - MOZART

[23:42] Concerto for two pianos in E flat K365 - (10/28/36)

[28:43] Piano Concerto No.21 in C K467 - (1/12/37)

[16:24] Piano Sonata No.16 in B flat K570 - (4/16/48)

[9:33] Rondo in A minor K511 - (6/4/46)

TOTAL TIME: 78:42



DISC SIX - SCHUBERT

[24:51] Moments musicaux D780 - (9/2,12/37)

[4:47] Allegretto in C minor D915 - (1/25/39)

[3:16] March in E D606 - (1/27/39)

[36:46] Piano Sonata No.21 in B flat D960 - (1/25,26/39)

TOTAL TIME: 70:01



DISC SEVEN

SCHUBERT

[24:00] 1-4 Impromptus D899 - (6/6-9/50)

[22:24] 5-8 Impromptus D935 - (6/12,13/50)

MOZART

[14:38] Piano Sonata No.12 in F K332 - (6/5/46 & 6/5/47)

TOTAL TIME: 71:34



DISC EIGHT

SCHUBERT

[33:58] Piano Quintet in A D667 'Trout' - (9/16/35)

MOZART

[29:57] Piano Quartet in G minor K478 - (1/31/34)

TOTAL TIME: 64:03"