Originally posted on March 6
Berg’s only Piano Sonata is also his Opus One – not a wholly characteristic work at that point if a bountiful one within its compact one-movement structure, and with fleeting anticipations of both Wozzeck and (unfinished) Lulu, the Sonata not without its hothouse emotions amidst impressionistic and elusive expression, comprehensively addressed by Fazil Say, whereas the B-flat Sonata comes at the end of Schubert’s relatively short life and is numbered twenty-one in Otto Deutsch’s catalogue. Say gives the first movement a down-to-earth reading, flowing, determined – really too much for the marked Molto moderato – and takes the exposition repeat, although maybe he should not have done so, for this early stage is fairly uneventful and the fortissimo bass trill (exclusive to the repeat) lacks consequence. However fluent Say’s playing, this first movement (which would have been thirteen minutes without the repeat) is only about the notes, often rushed through. However, the second movement does dig deeper, with much feeling, and the Scherzo is shapely, with the Finale resolute. Excellent recorded sound on Warner Classics 5419769748, released on March 20.