Search - Schubert, Rubinstein :: Wanderer Fantasy

Deep thoughts and simple words

Massimo Marullo | Messina, Italy | 11/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In this recording are present some of the most important piano works written by Schubert. The Wanderer-Fantasie is a work among the most famous of the Austrian composer. At the same time poetic and virtuosistic, its exploitation needs an interpeter that knows how to exalt the characteristics of it, mantaining the balance between the rhapsodic formal character and the continuity of the conducting melodic line. Artur Rubinstein convinces fully from the height of his interpretative mastery, thanks to the exemplary clarity of his pianistic speech. The Piano Sonata in B flat D 960 represents Schubert's last pianistic composition and it contains in itself the "summa" of the poetics of the composer; in it are admirably condensed great lyric intensity (this work can be considered like a long song), effusion, balance between formal freedom and structural perfection, all expressed with a language sometimes of astonishing simplicity and sobriety. The same ability to express deep thoughts with simple words we find in the interpretation of Rubinstein who, thanks to such extraordinary skill represents the ideal guide for the "wayfarer" that wants to advance in the fascinating musical world of Schubert. Two impromptus drawn from op. 90 complete this splendid recording, that represents one of the miliary stones in the history of the pianistic interpretation."

Rubinstein does this music so well!

Craig Matteson | Ann Arbor, MI | 07/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Wanderer Fantasy Opus 15 was about the first and certainly a very influential single movement sonata. Liszt's famous b-minor sonata is modeled along these lines. It is a big work and is fun to play. Rubinstein has a wonderful conception of the work and the right temperment to make the piece work on every level.The two Impromptus are among the most popular and beautiful. Number 3 will have you singing along and you will want to sing with Number 4, but it isn't that easy to sing. It really is a work for piano. Again, Rubinstein has this music in his blood. He grew up in a world where this music was just being published.The huge B-Flat sonata has also become a popular piece. It is a wonderful work but requires more conception than technique to pull off. It is always fun to play, but can be dull to listen to if the pianist doesn't know how to tell the story all the way through. You have to make good decisions and stick with them or the piece will fall apart for the audience. Well, Mr. Rubinstein pulls this off wonderfully well. His greatness and mastery show in all these works.I love Schubert and am grateful to have the performances recorded to enjoy over and over again."