Schubert Live, Vol 3
Schubert lays on the melancholy with a trowel but Imogen Cooper is on song
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Franz Schubert
Label: Avie
Magazine Review Date: 7/2010
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 134
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: AV2158
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(12) Deutsche (Ländler), Movement: D |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
(12) Deutsche (Ländler), Movement: A |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
(12) Deutsche (Ländler), Movement: B minor |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
(12) Deutsche (Ländler), Movement: G sharp minor |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
(12) Deutsche (Ländler), Movement: A flat |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
(12) Deutsche (Ländler), Movement: A flat minor |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
(12) Deutsche (Ländler), Movement: B |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
(12) Deutsche (Ländler), Movement: E |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Sonata for Piano No. 14 |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Ungarische Melodie |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Sonata for Piano No. 15, 'Relique' |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Impromptus, Movement: No. 1 in C minor |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Impromptus, Movement: No. 2 in E flat |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Impromptus, Movement: No. 3 in G flat |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Impromptus, Movement: No. 4 in A flat |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Sonata for Piano No. 21 |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Allegretto |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Imogen Cooper, Piano |
Author: Jeremy Nicholas
These live performances, taken from three separate concerts in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, raised the perhaps contentious thought that this is how recordings should ideally be made now: music-making for an audience (rather than a microphone) without the safety blanket of six, seven or possibly eight takes, but just a patch session if necessary (Cooper, needless to say, is note-perfect). Why should we listen any longer to performances that are the results of hundreds of edits? Discuss.
There is a caveat to this volume, however. It is not Cooper’s fault but by happenstance rather than intention the programme, with few exceptions, is too consistently melancholic and introspective to be enjoyed in one sitting. This is most pronounced in the 15 minutes of the A minor sonata’s first movement where Schubert lays on the self-pity with a trowel; but in the 12 German Dances and even in the second and fourth Impromptus and the B flat Sonata’s Scherzo one senses the surface jollity is forced. Having said that, I shall treasure this performance of the G flat Impromptu, a miracle of heartfelt cantabile playing that made my eyes burn. Likewise, the radiant pessimism of the opening movement of the B flat Sonata, played without the exposition repeat. My one criticism is the coda of D960 where I wished Cooper had, instead of politely concluding the work, wrapped it up more precipitately, leaving us with the impression that Schubert had suddenly realised that he had revealed more of his troubled soul than he intended to.
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