Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Alfred Brendel :: Schubert: Impromptus, Opp. 90 & 142

The Gold Standard Among Greats

Christopher Smith | Atlanta, Georgia | 02/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Schubert's Impromptus are among my most favorite piano music. Schubert is unique among composers in that he can evoke the most complex emotions out of the simplest and most irresistible melodies, and the changes of mood even within the space of a few bars are staggering in these pieces. To me they are the greatest measure of a pianist's heart, because while the technical challenges of the Impromptus are not enormous, a pianist must possess the kind of empathy necessary to follow the music's journey into the depths of human heartbreak and joy. Because I love this music so much, I either own or have borrowed from libraries many interpretations--Perahia, Uchida, Zimerman, Pires, Kempff--yet Brendel remains the standard against which all the others must be measured. His approach to the Impromptus is deceptively direct, never overwrought and precious, and he just lays bare their infinite richness without holding back or muddying their overall effect. My other favorite is Perahia, who is a little more restrained in his playing, and who is in his own way every bit as impressive as Brendel, so I'd have to say it is difficult to choose between the two. In the end I suppose it just comes down to personal preference, and here I have to go with Brendel, because his interpretations seem a shade less mannered and communicate to me the improvisatory (ie. the impromptu) nature of these compositions. Better though to own both, and hear for yourself the kinds of divergent responses these masterpieces cvan evoke."

Schubert Impromptus

Christopher Smith | 05/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a young pianist myself, I was eager to listen to this CD, as I was starting to work on the Schubert Impromptu, Opus 90, No. 2. I enjoy listening to recordings to get ideas for dynamics and color to use in the pieces. This CD was far beyond my expectations. All of the pieces were gorgiously played, light and thoughtful as well, the latter being quite typical of Breandel. All in all, it is a fantastic recording that I am not able to stop listening to!"

Exquisite!

Andrew Lim | Berkeley, CA United States | 04/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are performances of the highest order. In each piece, Brendel achieves a wonderful balance between fine detail and overall structure, tenderness and strength, heart and mind. A beautiful recording. I have not heard, nor can I imagine, anything better."