Octo_Russ

Schubert - 8 Impromptus [Brendel] 

Here it is, my most favourite disc of all time, i've played this to death, and loved every minute of it, i played this yet again on the way to Church, and marvelled at the genius of both Schubert and Brendel, and it was good to listen with new ears, and caught some things i haven't recognised before, Brendel is my most favourite Pianist also, a great intellect, some of his YouTube videos where he talks about his art are illuminating, Brendel creates the epitome of the dance in Schubert, a bouncing along ride that flows naturally from one bump to the next, Brendel is a master at this, early in my Blog i reported on this same disc [10th March 2010].

Alfred Brendel is now retired from professionally playing, he's now 81 years old, and he recorded this disc in 1988, the front cover [by Gabriela Brandenstein] is a photo shot in the Brahms Library in Vienna, a nice black & white shot, sharp and well composed, the lettering / logo is well laid out, i like this mini Brendel series.

I usually find that Impromptus 3 or 5 are the highlights of every listen, but this time around i have a new appreciation for the last two pieces of each set [Impromptus 4 & 8], and especially the very last Impromptu [D935/4, i call Impromptu 8], Brendel plays it very fast, here's a shortlist of some of my favourite recordings of D935/4 with timings,

Alfred Brendel [Analogue] - 5:31

Alfred Brendel [Digital] - 5:33

Daniel Barenboim - 6:00

Murray Perahia - 6:32

Mitsuko Uchida - 6:33

Nikolai Demidenko - 7:19

as you can see, Brendel is easily at the front of the pack, even his analogue recording is only 2 seconds different, and it's this quicksilver speed which makes this individual Impromptu so compelling, it's a stuttering and spluttering piece, like some four legged animal that has one leg shorter than the others, it gallops along with a wonky beat, also it's a study in staccato and legato, and it rocks between both, what a genius Schubert is to create that lop sidedness in the opening [0:00-0:19], and then comes the high treble flourishes [0:23-0:29 & 0:50-0:56], flashing across the keyboard, Brendel emphasises the real whizz at the end, a zing of a sound, yes! i loved this, but there's more, there's a freneticness at times, the hands go up and down the keyboard like frothy foam on the sea at times [2:05-2:18], alternating between legato and staccato, it's so good to have the opening come back again [3:31+], a great satisfying moment, and all those keyboard runs all over again, the piece ends with a lovely clunk at the bass end of the keyboard [5:21], as if the Pianist went down the keyboard and dropped off the end with an almighty thud!, great stuff Alfred. 

Here's Matteo Prendola playing Impromptu 8 on YouTube.