Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Schubert’s Final Acceptance, Rueful as Always
By DAVID ALLEN
AUG. 1, 2016
The British pianist Paul Lewis, 44, is one of today’s finest exponents of Schubert, noted for his clarity of tone and simplicity of interpretation. I asked him to talk about a single page of Schubert’s piano music; he chose the final page of the slow movement from the Sonata in B flat (D. 960), Schubert’s last. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.
By DAVID ALLEN
AUG. 1, 2016
The British pianist Paul Lewis, 44, is one of today’s finest exponents of Schubert, noted for his clarity of tone and simplicity of interpretation. I asked him to talk about a single page of Schubert’s piano music; he chose the final page of the slow movement from the Sonata in B flat (D. 960), Schubert’s last. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.
John Francis
Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Wonderful interview with one of his generation's greatest musicians. Thank-you for posting this.
Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Second that. Thanks, John.maestrob wrote:Wonderful interview with one of his generation's greatest musicians. Thank-you for posting this.
I've heard Lewis a few times and even interviewed him: as here, he was polite, articulate, interested and involved, which speaks volumes for his character.
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Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Why this page? The answer seems to me clear. At the risk of arousing Donald Isler's ire, Schubert's sonatas are uneven, with many long boring passages, but this is not one of them. The first time I heard one was as a boy on a TV broadcast from channel 13 in NYC. I had my piano lesson with dear old Mrs. Troidle the next day and shared my impression. Far from contradicting me, she said "Schubert was great, but dear God, sometimes he didn't know when to stop."
There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.
-- Johann Sebastian Bach
Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
For me, there's not one moment too many in this particular sonata - providing the first movement repeat is not taken, because the leadback music is unworthy of the rest of it. Some other movements by Schubert don't sustain their interest, at least not for me; a prime example is the finale of his 6th symphony, which just rambles on and on. But generally speaking, Schubert's lengths are heavenly, as the man said.
John Francis
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Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Paul Lewis was at Tanglewood this past week.
On Sunday afternoon he gave an exciting performance of the Brahms D Minor Concerto, but for me the special treat was hearing him on Friday night with pianist Jonathan Biss in a performance of Schubert's Fantasy in F Minor.
After hearing that, I was inspired to pull out my score and start practicing it again.
On Sunday afternoon he gave an exciting performance of the Brahms D Minor Concerto, but for me the special treat was hearing him on Friday night with pianist Jonathan Biss in a performance of Schubert's Fantasy in F Minor.
After hearing that, I was inspired to pull out my score and start practicing it again.
Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
If I could listen to only one solo piano piece from now until my death - a silly idea, I admit - it would be this one.
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Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
This movement both starts and concludes Bruno Monsaigneon's "Richter the Enigma". I really like the way that Richter plays this. He, also, was not given to being overly sentimental and in this work he truly let's the music speak for itself.
It's a piece that I also enjoy playing as it's so easy to simply get lost in the music.
It's a piece that I also enjoy playing as it's so easy to simply get lost in the music.
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Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Many interesting comments here. (But nothing that draws my "ire," John B!) I reviewed a concert last weekend by Alexander Kobrin which included this sonata. That performance did include the repeat of the first movement. I don't object to the music in the first ending, but playing the repeat does make the sonata even longer than it needs to be (IMHO), wonderful work that it is anyway. I refer to the point Lewis is talking about, at the top of the last page of the second movement, as a magical moment, where Schubert takes us into C Major. Interesting mention by Lewis about the constant ongoing eighth notes. I played the A Minor Sonata which is referred to in a recital last week. Did not know that it was from around the time of Schubert's diagnosis. That sonata is certainly dark, but I was not aware that it was also a musical turning point for him. Would have liked to have heard Lewis and Biss (neither of whom I've yet heard in concert) play the Fantasy. If anyone's interested, there's a concert performance of it on YouTube which I played with my friend, Arthur Abrahams.
Donald Isler
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Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Don't be ridiculous, Don. Of course we are interested. I searched this six ways to Sunday and did not find your performance, though I did find several others. For those who may not know, Donald holds back on the extent of his own talent and accomplishment, for reasons unclear to me. It would be a privilege to play a four-hand piece with him, but I would be the one at a disadvantage and much need to practice.Donald Isler wrote:Many interesting comments here. (But nothing that draws my "ire," John B!) I reviewed a concert last weekend by Alexander Kobrin which included this sonata. That performance did include the repeat of the first movement. I don't object to the music in the first ending, but playing the repeat does make the sonata even longer than it needs to be (IMHO), wonderful work that it is anyway. I refer to the point Lewis is talking about, at the top of the last page of the second movement, as a magical moment, where Schubert takes us into C Major. Interesting mention by Lewis about the constant ongoing eighth notes. I played the A Minor Sonata which is referred to in a recital last week. Did not know that it was from around the time of Schubert's diagnosis. That sonata is certainly dark, but I was not aware that it was also a musical turning point for him. Would have liked to have heard Lewis and Biss (neither of whom I've yet heard in concert) play the Fantasy. If anyone's interested, there's a concert performance of it on YouTube which I played with my friend, Arthur Abrahams.
There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.
-- Johann Sebastian Bach
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Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Thanks for your kind words, John. I just put the words "Isler Abrahams Schubert Fantasy" into the search function on YouTube and it came up right away.
Donald Isler
Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
FWIW: Yes, I do have the recording of Perahia/Lupu faetured above, and the Schubert is pure poetry. Teresa and I were lucky enough to have stage seats in Carnegie Hall when Perahia/Lupu played a full concert of four-hand music around the time the recording was made. One of the great concert experiences of our lives, it was.
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Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
One of my Desert Island Discs this recording.jbuck919 wrote:Don't be ridiculous, Don. Of course we are interested. I searched this six ways to Sunday and did not find your performance, though I did find several others. For those who may not know, Donald holds back on the extent of his own talent and accomplishment, for reasons unclear to me. It would be a privilege to play a four-hand piece with him, but I would be the one at a disadvantage and much need to practice.Donald Isler wrote:Many interesting comments here. (But nothing that draws my "ire," John B!) I reviewed a concert last weekend by Alexander Kobrin which included this sonata. That performance did include the repeat of the first movement. I don't object to the music in the first ending, but playing the repeat does make the sonata even longer than it needs to be (IMHO), wonderful work that it is anyway. I refer to the point Lewis is talking about, at the top of the last page of the second movement, as a magical moment, where Schubert takes us into C Major. Interesting mention by Lewis about the constant ongoing eighth notes. I played the A Minor Sonata which is referred to in a recital last week. Did not know that it was from around the time of Schubert's diagnosis. That sonata is certainly dark, but I was not aware that it was also a musical turning point for him. Would have liked to have heard Lewis and Biss (neither of whom I've yet heard in concert) play the Fantasy. If anyone's interested, there's a concert performance of it on YouTube which I played with my friend, Arthur Abrahams.
Re: Paul Lewis on Schubert's last sonata
Donald Isler wrote:Thanks for your kind words, John. I just put the words "Isler Abrahams Schubert Fantasy" into the search function on YouTube and it came up right away.
Donald
Is this the one?
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