Piano Forum

Don’t get me wrong,I love Schubert’s sonatas and especially Bb major,G major and the “little” a major  sometimes it feels like he just drags on and on and on and on and just trying to put everything he thinks about on one piece.How can I appreciate the material more?

I love Schubert's piano sonatas and I would say they're his best genre. They open up an expansive quality of a wide single thought, and once you get past the point where they're simple harmonies next to each other, the meaning is fluid but there are so many possibilities.

I would just sit down with the music for a while, do some of the longer sonatas while reading about them (Wikipedia is sufficient) and focus on the parts of the music you do like. After that there are certain sections where you may find "nice" but not speaking to you as much. This can definitely be supplemented by different recordings. For example, in the C Minor sonata I didn't have any idea what the B theme into Eb Major was for until I heard the soft ritardando in Sokolov's recording. Listen for subtle details not in the score, but in the playing, This is not complex music, but its engagement comes from Schubert's understanding of the human soul, not only when showing certain emotional undertones but really all of them in quick (but seemingly neverending) succession.

If you can't get into his sonatas, they're definitely not for everyone and I don't blame you for wanting more exciting music. You shouldn't listen to music that you find suboptimal or less enjoyable.

Also,does anyone know good interpretations for g major and Bb major,I have never heard a recording that dosen’t make me go,”the repeat of the exposition is so boring” because I have heard performances of the other sonatas that I love but no one to me can make the g major and Bb major just right.

Here are some of my favorite recordings. They may not suit your taste, but I really enjoy:

D 459: Kempff's playing works really directly for this. This sonata shows Schubert's compositional style but definitely not as mature ideas. I think any recording for this is fine. Kempff doesn't drag too much and really anything can be drawn from this light, but really enjoyable sonata.

D 568: Kempff again. Simple and light, and the matter-of-fact approach works well here.

D 575: Richter captures the Schubertian qualities here and every change in texture and quick modulation descends capriciously before flowing once more in the 1st mvt. There are many somewhat subdued ritardando in the 2nd mvt and he isn't afraid to hide some voices only to bring them out quickly. Also, lots of space is given to what would be simple chords. Solid, paced 3rd mvt. Finale is take at a fun, brisk tempo.

D 784: Richter is known for overexaggerating tempi of many of Schubert's opening movements but here the sparse variation is fueled by the somewhat slower tempo.

D 840: Richter again. Barely anyone does the last 2 movements. I don't mind the tempo choice in the 1st movement, as it shows the beautiful symphonic ideas.

D 845: Brendel, but there are many great performances of this one. It's a hard sonata to dislike.

D 894: Hard to pick between Uchida and Lewis. If this sonata bores you and you want a faster interpretation, do Kempff's for the 1st movement.

D 958: Sokolov for the great phrasing in the opening movement, and making the finale sound frantic even at the slower tempo he chooses.

D 959: Zimerman

D 960: Yudina for excitement, Ugorskaja for balance. If you get bored easily, do Schnabel's.

Uchida's recordings are always really solid, but they don't stand out as much.