Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Jenö Jandó :: Schubert: Piano Sonatas D. 537 & D. 664

Wanderer plus bonus sonatas

Steve Kessell | Western Australia | 05/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Gramophone Guide describes the Wanderer-Fantasy as "one of his most disturbing works". It is indeed powerful and brooding stuff, but Jando never lets it lag or drag. This is an excellent performance of the Wanderer!The two piano sonatas (# 4 and 13) are an added bonus; I bought the CD simply to get the Wanderer. I have Kempff's complete set of Schubert's piano sonatas; those and Schiff's are supposed to be the definitive recordings. But Jando comes very close, at a real bargain price. [His Naxos recording, with the Kodaly Quartet, of Schubert's Trout piano quintet, is also excellent.]This CD is further proof (if any were needed) of Naxos' ability to produce outstanding recordings at amazingly low prices. Most of their recordings are "OK to good"; this one is excellent."

Two Riveting Sonatas and an Exquisite Wanderer Fantasy

Hexameron | 04/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As always, Jeno Jando leads a tremendous example with his renditions of Schubert's piano music. He possesses all the right essentials and musically illustrates the best elements of Schubert's Sonatas. I know a lot of us out there like to stick to our Schubert "sets" of Uchida, Schiff, Brendel or Kempff. But Jando's dual achievements of lyricism and power in Schubert's piano music should be commended. Not counting the above mentioned elite pianists, I've heard a number of performers who approach Schubert with the mindset of emphasizing either Chopinesque lyricism or Beethovenian furor. Well, Jando happily marries both of these dispositions in his wonderful interpretations of the D. 537 and 664 Sonatas, and also with his foray into the Great Leviathan, the "Wanderer Fantasy".



The first work here, the copiously melodic thirteenth Piano Sonata in A major D. 664, is a delightful and magnificent composition. From the opening pastoral mood of the first movement, Schubert exhibits all the mellifluous and songful aspects we can expect from his much-adored themes. Jando's unyielding grace in the exposition makes the music truly sing; and his fierce attack in the development is outstanding. Regarding the Andante movement, I don't think it's possible to dislike this beautiful but fleeting piece. There are moments that hark upon Beethoven and also prophesize the lilting Romanticism of Schumann. I must warn the irritable that if the volume is turned up high enough while listening to this movement, you will hear Jando hum a bit. Honestly, I hate it when pianists do this, but Jando's humming is faint enough even at a moderate volume, that it shouldn't be too grating on the nerves. Jando is immediately forgiven, though, in his stirring delivery of the last movement, a frisky and tumultuous "Allegro". Of course, the movement is a constant outpouring of melodious and rhythmic ideas, but Jando brings these to a zenith with a clean-sounding and ecstatic performance.



Written in 1817, the fourth Sonata in A minor D. 537 is strikingly similar to some of the later Sonatas Schubert wrote. The first movement, marked "Allegro ma non troppo" protrudes into the aural foreground with its heroic and grandiose ideas, not at all hinting that it was penned by a naive 20 year old. Jando's technical dexterity and athleticism is matched by his careful dynamics and fluent phrasing. In the second movement, we find an amazing skeletal version of the Andantino from the later D. 850 Sonata. It's a more Mozartean take on that nearly identical Rondo theme from the D. 850 Andantino, but sounds marvelously fresh and individual on its own here. Again, I can find no fault with Jando's excellent playing. Of the animated little "Allegro vivace" third movement, I can only praise Jando's passionate temperament and bar-to-bar clarity.



This recording begins with pleasant Sonatas but culminates with an apotheosis of Schubert's piano-writing: the great Fantasy in C major, the "Wanderer". This outstanding four-part structured work was actually deemed unplayable even in the 19th century. There is an anecdote about Schubert himself performing the work, stopping abruptly out of frustration and then venting "Let the devil himself play this piece!" All Schubert lovers out there have reveled in this valiant work. It has everything: brilliance, profundity, demonic Classical virtuosity, and ingenious dramatic content. Indeed, Schubert continues Beethoven's aims and presages Liszt's obsessions for producing symphonic, orchestrally-sonorous music from the depths of the piano. Although there is a huge discography out there for this famous work and I could spew off at least five other pianists that should be heard, I certainly find nothing wrong with Jando's execution. On the contrary, I think his overall tempo and effective climaxes are thoroughly successful. While some parts may sound weak, especially after hearing Pollini, I still find Jando's attention to melodic detail a plus.



Bottom line: Most of the Complete Schubert Sonata sets out there might seem to be a better deal than these single Naxos volumes from Jeno Jando. And I hope Naxos, like they did with Scherbakov's Beethoven-Liszt, will consider producing a box set. But there is a quality to Jeno Jando's interpretations that I find irresistible. I've now heard and reviewed all of his recordings of the Schubert Sonatas, and each one has surpassed my expectations. It's somewhat dubious to rank him above or below Uchida, Brendel or Kempff, but I'll at least declare that Jando can be spoken in the same sentence with those illustrious Schubertians."