Best Schubert Sonata

[cloches_de_geneve]

Which do you find the most striking, interesting, beautiful, best composed of the Schubert Sonatas?
As many will tend to mention the last (Bflat D960), please also mention a second or third one.

[practicingnow]

I love the C minor

[thalbergmad]

The G major Op 78 has always been my favourite.

In a major key, but it sounds minor.

Beyond beautiful.

Thal

[brewtality]

960 is my favourite. Also fond of 850 and 958 and others which I can't remember the D number for.

[_____]

It's a tie between the G major Op. 78, and B flat D960. Both are absolutely stunning.

D959 in A major comes a close second.

[mephisto]

The G major Op 78 has always been my favourite.

In a major key, but it sounds minor.

Beyond beautiful.

Thal

Wich D number is that?

My favourites are the three late ones.

[kevinatcausa]

I haven't heard the complete set yet, but of the ones I'm familiar with D784 (and in particular its first movement) is my favorite.

[thalbergmad]

Wich D number is that?

My favourites are the three late ones.

That is D894

[brahmsian]

960 or 894

I also enjoy the A flat major D557

[Waldszenen]

D. 960, D. 958 and one A Major that I've forgotten the number of.

[degenhart]

On the Repertoire-place there is a discussion about the best Mozart's Piano Music Interpreter. I think it will be very interesting to discuss here about the best Schubert's Sonatas Interpreter. In my opinion Radu Lupu is the best of all. I am looking forward to the reactions. Hans.

[arensky]

For me, D. 959.

[mephisto]

Schubert's melodies are great, and I do actually not find his music overlong, but I understand why others think it is.

D958 is the most impressive one for me right know, also D 850.

[cloches_de_geneve]

In Schubert matters... I just happened to hear a concert in which a young pianist played D 894 (G major).

The problem is: If you don't get the atmophere, the tone right, it sounds just like beautiful music. But it's so much more! And sometimes pianists get it right, and then a movement, or even a part of a movement is out of sync and the magic is gone. Schubert is definitely difficult.

Arrau said his piano music poses "the ultimate problem of interpretation". I think he was probably right.

[mikey6]

Schubert to me always sounds more beutiful in the major key eg. the cmin impromptu when the theme comes in cmaj towards the end. 
I recently went to his birth house in Vienna (strange setting!) where they had a audio player set up with his 'greatest hits' - I listened to the Erlkonig and an die Musik whilst staring at his painting and it was one of the best experiences of my life.  I can't explain why.
Of the sonatas, I like the little Amaj, Gmaj and Bbmaj.

[cloches_de_geneve]

Interesting comments. Seems that besides Bflat maj (D960), c minor (D958) and G major (D 894) are the favorites here.
I am somewhat surprised that the big A major (D959) is not mentioned more frequently. I guess one has to get into the mood of the first movement, but after that everything in this sonata seems exceptionally fabulous to me.
Even more surprising is the fact that the big a minor (D845) is actually not even mentioned once! I wonder why ... To me it is one of his most impressive sonatas, his darkest, his "tragic" in a way.

[degenhart]

With the comment of Cloches-de-Geneve about D 959 and D 845 I fully agree. I should like to add the unfinished D 840 (Reliquie), especially the Moderato & Andante (magnificent theme). Another point of view to approach the Schubert-Sonatas is the question for the piano-player : which Sonatas (or movements) are not too difficult and give the greatest pleasure to play. Of course that depends on the level. Perhaps it will be interesting to talk about your own experience. Hans Degenhart.

[transitional]

The way I'd rank them: Start at the end (D 960) as the best and go to the beginning.

[lelle]

The way I'd rank them: Start at the end (D 960) as the best and go to the beginning.

LOL nice and easy! Gotta admit I find a lot of his stuff a bit too long winded for my taste but I like the last sonata in B flat.

[cuberdrift]

The last one (D. 960) is generally regarded to be the best and is seen as equal to other masterworks like the Liszt Sonata and Chopin Fourth Ballade.

I share that majority opinion.

[transitional]

I'm growing to like the D 894 in G Major more and more every time I listen to it. Although it's not as deeply introspective it has many elements and can be played to make it just as long a piece as D 960!

Someone was also asking about favorite Schubert interpreters - mine is Uchida.

[transitional]

I post here way too much now, but the D 568 also doesn't get enough recognition. Though it sounds ridiculously familiar ... I'm not sure why ...

Anyways go listen to it now. It's like late Schubert but less complex - kind of refined, in a way, but with many, many ideas. And not to forget, quite moving.

[transitional]

D 840 is just as grand, but long, quiet, and introspective as 960 and 894. That's another one that doesn't get enough recognition.

You know, this feels like a one-ended conversation now, but maybe I should just keep posting here every month when looking at the post dates.

[lelle]

^I mean it could be interesting to see which Schubert sonata is your favorite each month

[transitional]

^I mean it could be interesting to see which Schubert sonata is your favorite each month

Okay, I'll keep you guys updated.

Well last month (which means now haha, the end of my phase on each sonata is always basically here) I've really been enjoying the D 784 halloween-sounding sonata ... for obvious reasons

[transitional]

I'm back with a new favorite Schubert sonata, D 959. The last movement is long and lyrical. There's so much direction and calmness, which follows the contrasting, inviting opening movements that lead into this one. The 2nd movement is popular as one of the most action-packed movements in piano sonatas, but I care about where it goes really, not where it goes through, in this sonata.

[transitional]

New month, new favorite Schubert sonata. This month it's not really a favorite, but rather a turn in taste as I can't have such a radical change in preference all the time. D 575, which I used to overlook as simple chords and an overrated "underrated" sonata, if you get what I'm saying. I listened through it again and I heard lots of unification, gorgeous turns in mood in the first mvt that kept returning, a beautiful main motif in the second mvt, and a waltz-like segment of the 4th mvt that made the piece memorable.