Search - Frederic Chopin, Robert Schumann, Franz [Vienna] Schubert :: Great Romantic Piano Sonatas

Two of the best interpretations

V. Vo | Los Angeles, CA USA | 10/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this double-CD set to hear Ingrid Haebler's version of the Schubert Bflat sonata, since her complete Schubert set for Philips is out of print. It was definitely worth the purchase as I was completely moved beyond comprehension. Her playing has to be one of the best that I've ever heard. This last great sonata of Schubert is known to be very difficult to interpret. Many pianists fall into the trap of playing it very gingerly and slowly. Ingrid Haebler plays this sonata with a delicate pianissimo that doesn't seem overtly sentimental. She plays this sonata with a certain regality, yet with a touch of reverie that just makes her interpretation very moving.Her playing of the great 2nd movement is extremely powerful. Most pianists tend to play this movement as slow as possible. Ms. Haebler somehow works her magic where she plays it as a straight forward adagio, yet the sound that is created leaves a lasting impression that is unforgettable.As for the rest of the disc, it is a splendid showcase of the finest in the Romantic piano repertoire. But there was one huge surprise for myself when I heard one of the recordings in particular.I say this with a complete honesty, that Rafael Orozco's version of the Liszt bminor Sonata is probably the best that I personally ever heard. The Liszt sonata is one of the most widely recorded sonatas ever. I heard over ten versions of this sonata and pianists either tend to play this sonata as a firestorm or as a poetic work. Orozco plays this sonata both ways where he blazes a trail with the octave passages, and plays the adagio passages with a certain grace. It really is a wonderful recording. The sound quality of this recording is excellent as well."