Thursday, January 3, 2013

Paul Lewis and Schubert

Listening last night to Paul Lewis's new recording of Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy, the D 935 Impromptus, Moments Musicaux, and the D 845 Sonata made me think how difficult it must be to be a Schubert pianist.

To get the measure of Schubert one needs power (think Sviatoslav Richter), poetry (think Radu Lupu), and intellectual command (think Alfred Brendel). That's a tough mission, but Lewis acquits himself more than well. 

If you haven't already bought the CD (available here), you may be persuaded by this performance of the second D 935 Impromptu.