Schubert B-flat sonata

[Rach3]

What do you thing of this sonata? I think it is often compared with Beethoven's later sonatas which, while formalistically makes sense, is somewhat odd in my opinion as I think it to be uniquely Schubertish, much closer to his impromptus and stuff, and possessing Schubert's unique 'lyricism' that at least to the ear is quite distinguishable from Beethoven. They were both technically from the same 'era' and stuff... Anyway it is a beautiful piece and I just wanted to hear your opinions.

[BuyBuy]

I just love that piece. Schubert sonatas are not as widely known, and some are difficult to approach by the public (very slow and not showy), but the B-flat one is certainly the most loved. I think I might play it in a few monts.

Have you listened to Clara Haskil recording ? It's beautiful, don't miss it.

[Hmoll]

Schubert's piano sonatas are very well known, especially the late ones - which include the B flat major.
Perahia just recorded them, and they were performed by a lot of touring concert pianists this year.
They are very mature works, and are not played as much by students because of the interpretive difficulties, and the fact that you need a lot of tonal variety to play them well.
They are very different form Beethoven's late sonatas for two reasons:
1) Schubert relies on a much more straight forward formal design - sonata-allegro first movement, scherzo, rondo last movement, while Beethoven was much freer in his later sonatas.
2) Schubert's last three sonatas are very expansive, and he develops the thematic material in a much more extensive way. Beethoven on the other hand can be much more compact and concise by comparison - with the possible exception of op 106.