This 114 cd edition encompasses his complete discography for philips and decca and includes studio albums, live recordings and radio broadcasts. Alfred brendel s playing of schubert s piano pieces is very wellbalanced, between the emotional and lyrical sounds of schubert and the reserved, platonic i. Alfred brendel one of the great interpreters of the core austrogerman repertoire, with mozart, beethoven, schubert, schumann and liszt at its centre, brendels career ran from 1948 to 2008 when he retired from concertgiving. A few small differences in timing confirm that it really is a new recording in fact the third of brendels new schubert cycle for philips, the others being the sonatas in d major, d850 and a minor d784 on 422 0632ph, 1188, and the sonata in c minor, d958 on d 422 0762ph, 489 made in west germany in september 1987. Printing instructions when printing from adobe acrobat reader. The series presents music for the casual buyer and connoisseur. Although the playing is not effortful,for the first time ever,i appreciate the effort involved in both composing and playing these masterworks,maybe because of the live recording,somehow both hands sound more audible to me than usualnot a smooth. Tensile drive and continuity mark his assertive, starkly lit trajectory through the first movement, while the pianists eloquent restraint and ravishing soft playing make the most of the slow.
Alfred brendel plays schubert alfred brendel allmusic. These essays, written with wisdom, eloquence and humour not least when brendel writes about humour, reveal the ethic of master performer who takes nothing for granted, and nothing as read. Michael brendel tells german news agency dpa the investigation has been going on for quite some while and is conducted independently from the authorities investigation. Ever since alfred brendel bid farewell to the concert stage after six decades of performing, he has been passing on his insight and experience in the form of lectures, readings and masterclasses. Alfred brendels playing of schuberts piano pieces is very wellbalanced, between the emotional and lyrical sounds of schubert and the reserved, platonic i. Brendels technical ability and mastery of pianism is on rich display. And yet alfred brendel does this, tooas a poet writing in german and english. Whether discussing bach, mozart, beethoven, schubert, liszt, schoenberg. Bargain hunters already will have snapped up the philips duo set of brendels recordings of the final triptych of schubert piano sonatasd. Alfred brendel at his home in hampstead, north london, september 2010. Als schubert has always been among the greatest readings,and to have these personally chosen by the artist is very welcome. Alfred brendel s elegant essay on the late sonatas of schubert nyr, february 2 contains many insights, but in one respect he is off the mark. If youve never heard schuberts complete rosamunde music, this is a great place to start.
Among two he lists are there are no bad pianos, only bad pianists and there. This reader for lovers of the piano distils his musical and linguistic eloquence and. This reader for lovers of the piano distils his musical and linguistic eloquence and vast knowledge, and will prove invaluable to anyone with an interest in the technique, history and repertoire of the piano. Brendel gives schubert a lean and concentrated forcefulness, even at times a quirkiness that is perfectly suited to the music. Schuberts health was failing from a long battle with syphilis. The third release to mark alfred brendel s 80th birthday, is a stunning reissue of alfred brendel s digital recordings of schubert s major piano works recorded between 198788. Recorded in vienna for vox in 1967, these performances of both groups of impromptus, the four great d. His biggest role was as single0 in the scifi musical just imagine 1930, produced by fox film corporation. He will give his last recital in december at viennas musikverein, in the city where he came to prominence over half a century ago. A reissue of alfred brendels digital recordings of schuberts major piano works recorded 198788.
Photographed for the observer by sophia evans b ewilderment is stamped on the famous wrinkled brow of alfred brendel kbe when. As the anonymous respondent noted here, brendel has recorded the beethoven sonata cycle multiple times three, actually, once for vox, once for philips, and the last time for decca philips in another guise. Then, using your own words, write a story about him on pages 11 and 12. Alfred brendel personally selects recordings that have been significant in his performance and recorded career. Brendel spielt schubert eloquence brendel, alfred, schubert. How good is alfred brendel for interpreting beethoven. Alia vox alpha australian eloquence avie bis brilliant classics chandos channel classics coro cpo. Schuberts impromptus opus 90 and opus 142 rate with the finest, most tuneful of his composition.
He recorded extensively, often returning to key works a number of times. Throughout, brendel plays with a fullness of tone which he abjured, like prospero and his magic, in later years. An exchange from the march 16, 1989 issue to the editors. But it would, i think, be misleading to allow his remarks about repeats in the classical repertory letters, nyr, march 16 to stand without comment. Of his multiple recordings of schuberts opus posthumous bflat major sonata, this, his final statement of public life, a piece for which he was a champion, stands as. Schubert composed his last three piano sonatas in the summer of 1828, a year that also saw the composition of the fantasia in fminor for four hands, the string quintet in c, the mass in eflat, and in his final days a sketch of a symphony in d. Alfred brendel made his first recording at the age of 21 and has since recorded a wide range of piano repertoire. See our exclusive arkivmusic reissues of alfred brendel recordings. Eloquence is one of the most criticallyclaimed classical reissue series in the world. The live recording of d784 predates brendels 1987 studio version, but direct. Impatience was not a vice the great pianist at 85, looking back on playing, writing, living, loving and wondering how he managed to fit so much in.
The b flat sonata was recorded three years earlier and has never previously been published on cd. In a rare interview from may 2004, fred child talks with pianist alfred brendel on the eve of the musicians u. It has cropped up the press this autumn as british pianist. Including moments musicaux, impromptus and the wanderer fantasy, this second schubert cycle comes in a 7cd boxed set, displaying brendel s impressions of. Eroicavariationen to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it. While his pictures at the exhibition was breathtaking and his beethoven sonatas were aweinspiring, it was his schubert that let listeners know brendel had a heart. Revisiting the first of alfred brendels several recorded versions of the schubert c minor sonata leads me to conclude that its his finest. I was immensely taken with it, especially by the energy, drive and virtuosic violin playing i encountered in the earlier work, and by the eloquence and. Brendel chose kempffs 1953 decca recording of schubert s a minor sonata, d. Alfred brendel piano cd 24 franz schubert 17971828 piano sonata in c minor d958 piano sonata in c major d840 unfinished. Alfred brendel, imogen cooper, academy of st martin in the fields, neville marriner 1 piano concertos no. The complete impromptusmoments musicaux by alfred brendel now. He had his first music lessons from his father, who.
Whether or not to meticulously observe the exposition repeat in schuberts final sonata, the d960 in bflat major, is a question which continues to trouble pianists, musicologists and listeners alike. A pianists az ebook by alfred brendel rakuten kobo. Brendel is on top form throughout this sonata, revelling both in its lyricism and the directness of its uncomplicated musical message, hitting us with schuberts searching melodies and harmonic brilliance where the music demands, singing, dancing having the occasional joke its as if schubert himself is standing at brendels shoulder. The debate concerns aspects such as authenticity, personal taste, prevailing musical fashion, and timing. Brendel was one of the great pianists of the 20th century, and what a treasure to hear this 2 disc set of him performing some of schuberts greatest instrumental. I am a great admirer of alfred brendel as a pianist and a thinker about music. Even at the peak of his early supervirtuoso period, austrian pianist alfred brendel had a soft spot for schubert. He was the first pianist ever to record the complete solo piano works of beethoven. As alfred brendel brought to a close his public performing career in 2008, brilliant classics compiled a 35cd set devoted to the pianists complete solo and concerted discs for the vox, turnabout, and vanguard labels, recorded prior to the long affiliation with philips that helped cement his international career. Brendel was one of the most important schubert interpreters of the last half of the twentieth century, and while this set is still in print, it shows us brendel at his best in an affordable, comprehensive and space saving package. When schubert died in 1828 at age thirtyone, few people would have considered his life worthy of a substantial book.
Complete your schubert alfred brendel, members of the cleveland quartet, james van demark collection. Brendel definition of brendel by the free dictionary. Retired at eightyfive, and still a mire of complexities. Alfred brendel edition cd brilliant classics 93761. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. In this definitive collection of a renowned pianists writin. This book distils what, at my advanced age, i feel able to say about music, musicians, and matters of my pianistic profession. Everthing that schubert wrote, whether explicitly so or not is a song and these 8 impromptus are among the best. Not all performing artists are eloquent about their art. The b minor entracte, recently claimed to be the unfinished symphonys missing finale, sounds fittingly dramatic in this context. When schubert was born beethoven was twentyseven years old. The complete vox, turnabout and vanguard solo recordings alfred brendel retires this year from public performance. Brendel spielt schubert eloquence brendel, alfred, schubert, franz. From one of the worlds bestloved pianists, comes a hugely insightful and enjoyable book for all piano lovers.