Schubert: Late Piano Works, Vol. 2 (Piano Sonata No. 21, D. 960 & 3 Piano Pieces, D. 946) Andrea Lucchesini

• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960:
• 1Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: I. Molto moderato21:54
• 2Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: II. Andante sostenuto10:38
• 3Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace con delicatezza - Trio04:11
• 4Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: IV. Allegro, ma non troppo09:05
• 3 Piano Pieces, D. 946:
• 53 Piano Pieces, D. 946: I. Allegro assai14:36
• 63 Piano Pieces, D. 946: II. Allegretto13:08
• 73 Piano Pieces, D. 946: III. Allegro05:16
• Total Runtime01:18:48

Info for Schubert: Late Piano Works, Vol. 2 (Piano Sonata No. 21, D. 960 & 3 Piano Pieces, D. 946)

Following his highly acclaimed first album of late piano works by Franz Schubert, the Florentine pianist Andrea Lucchesini now delves into Schubert’s monumental B-flat major Piano Sonata – the pianistic legacy of the short-lived Viennese composer.

[...] this Italian pianist manages to make it all seem as though created on the spur of the moment [...]." (BBC Music Magazine)
"Where others press ahead, Lucchesini lovingly lingers." (Gramophone)
"[...] a recording of exemplary clarity and perfection - also in relation to the sound." (Fono Forum)

Following the first instalment of his three-part Schubert series, the Florentine pianist Andrea Lucchesini now approaches the sanctum of Schubert's keyboard music: the Piano Sonata in B-flat major D. 960, composed a few weeks before the composer's untimely death in November 1828.

Over the last two decades, the 54-year-old pianist, who studied with Maria Tipo for many years, has increasingly devoted himself to chamber music and has also recorded the complete Beethoven sonatas. Both experiences influence his recording of Schubert's late work for the piano. Here, too, Lucchesini reveals a cosmos of colours and he revisits the tempi, emphasising contrasts and dramatic curves. Chamber music has inspired him to develop a "conversational" style - often there is a sense of dialogue, announcement or even lively communication.

Amongst the last three piano sonatas, the Sonata in B-flat major adopts a lyrical tone. But above all, Schubert takes time to develop his musical themes - Robert Schumann was astounded by what he called the "heavenly lengths" (and he intended to emphasise the "heavenly" aspect). But there are also abysses that were probably as inexplicable for contemporary listeners as they are for us today: sudden stops, trills in the lowest registers, the funeral music of the second movement - and then again a carefree scherzo and a serene finale.

On this album the monumental Sonata in B-flat major is combined with the three piano pieces D. 946.

Andrea Lucchesini, piano

Andrea Lucchesini
Born in 1965, Andrea Lucchesini studied piano with Maria Tipo and graduated in 1982. In 1983 he became the first Italian prize winner of the Dino Ciani International Piano Competition, which launched him on a brilliant international career. Since then he has performed with major orchestras under famous conductor, among which Claudio Abbado, Semyon Bychkov, Roberto Abbado Riccardo Chailly, Dennis Russell Davies, Charles Dutoit, Daniele Gatti, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Daniel Harding and Giuseppe Sinopoli.

In 1994 a jury of international musicologists, having considered the results achieved so far in his career, awarded Lucchesini the prestigious Accademia Chigiana Prize and, in 1995, the Critics Prize F. Abbiati.

In July 2001 Andrea Lucchesini premièred the new Piano Sonata by Luciano Berio at the Zurich Festival, continuing the close relationship with the composer established when Andrea Lucchesini performed Berio’s Piano Concerto Echoing Curves all over the world, later recorded for BMG with the London Symphony Orchestra. Lucchesini’s interest for the XX century repertoire is demonstrated, besides his choice of programs, also by his registration of Schönberg Pierrot Lunaire and Berg Kammerkonzert with the Dresden Staatskapelle and Giuseppe Sinopoli for Teldec.

Deeply committed to chamber music as well, Andrea Lucchesini participates in the Lockenhaus and Moritzburg Chamber Music Festivals and from September 2005 he is the Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Festival in Florence.

In the season 2005-2006 we remind in particular the concerts with the London Philharmonic and Wladimir Yurowski, with the Galicia Orchestra and Carlo Rizzi, with Italian Radio National Orchestra and Yutaka Sado and with the BBC Orchestra in Manchester.

Booklet for Schubert: Late Piano Works, Vol. 2 (Piano Sonata No. 21, D. 960 & 3 Piano Pieces, D. 946)