Search - Franz Schubert, Daniel Barenboim, Radu Lupu :: Schubert: Military Marches - Variations - Grand Duo / Barenboim, Lupu

A First-Rate Schubertiade

M. C. Passarella | Lawrenceville, GA | 03/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Schubert's four-hand piano music doesn't claim the attention of his solo-piano music, as is true of all great composers who tried their hand at this species of hausmusik. But Schubert's four-hand pieces are among the most distinguished in the literature, and the Grand Duo Sonata on this disc can confidently be called one of the high points of the genre. At least some of this music was written as teaching and performance vehicles for his young pupils the Countesses Esterhazy, whom Schubert taught during summers in the 1820s. Supposedly, Schubert was infatuated with Countess Caroline, and some of his intoxication may be evident in the brilliant and charming Variations, which build to a long, bustling, effervescent coda that is echt Schubert.



The Marches Militaires, famous enough to be set for every instrumental combination known to man, were also written for the Countesses. They're wonderful pieces, of course, but the Sonata is in a league of its own. With a long first movement that mixes contemplation and drama in equal measures and a quick, scintillating finale that recalls the last movement of the Great C Major Symphony, this work has a symphonic style and grandeur that lead Schumann, before he had closely studied the score, to assume the Sonata was actually a symphony in disguise. And despite the power of those outer movements, maybe the most interesting of all is the scherzo--very free-wheeling and athletic, Schubert trying to make this most Beethovenian of musical forms his own. As often happens in Schubert, the trio is in marked contrast, with real weightiness and gravity.



I find that the team of Barenboim and Lupu are totally compelling in all of this music. Generally, I think of Lupu as the more impetuous performer, Barenboim being steadier if not a bit stodgy at times. Somehow, their temperaments compliment each other to the extent that they manage to cover all the emotional bases in this varied music, and they play with brilliance and virtuoso flair when that is called for. Excellent, powerful piano sound (with maybe just a hint of hardness at the top) helps make this disc a thoroughly entertaining Schubertiade."

Very pleasant music; admirable performance and recording

M. C. Passarella | 12/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All the 77-minute music in this disc is very pleasant and enjoyable. All the pieces here are more "classical-sounding" than other Schubert's piano pieces that I ever listened to. I hear the 4-hand piano verion of March Militaire no.1 for the first time here and it is as enjoyable as the more popular orchestral version that I had. The Grand Duo Sonata (which was once thought to be a sketch of his Symphony no. 7) is also performed admirably.The full presence of the piano sound captured in this disc is also impressive. The 20/24 bit technology is used to its fullest benefit that brings forth the most prominent sound of the solo piano I ever heard on a disc.Excellent choices of compositions, performance, and recording quality."

An absolute masterpiece

M. C. Passarella | 09/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I couldn't disagree with the reviewer below more. And the disc received a 1998 "Critic's Choice" award from Gramophone magazine! Great stuff, this!"