Schubert - Piano Sonata 21 [Pires]Maria-Joao Pires, born in Portugal 66 years ago [is she really that old?], seems a very serious Pianist, i'm not entirely convinced of her interpretations, and she can come across as opinionated, but she's never dull or boring.
Recorded in 1985, this is an enlightening interpretation, Pires gives ever so slight hesitations in the opening section, which heightens the weight on certain phrases, Schubert's opening is one of the most wonderful things that he has ever done, it's an opening of the utmost refinement and delicacy, in my opinion it's the greatest Piano Sonata written, Pires certainly likes to growl those angry bass notes loud [1:40-2:10], and elsewhere, where the marking is 'forte', she sure lets the hammer come down, but this creates an impassioned reading, similarly in the treble, her crispness can ring out louder and clearer [10:56-11:18], she garbles some sections too fast, but it's still thrilling, listen to the nice ring to the high sub melody [16:30-16:51], nicely illuminating an inner voice, lots to hear anew, endlessly fascinating, what an incredible Piano Sonata.
Here she is playing the first movement on YouTube.
