Schubert: Sonatas D. 959 & D. 960 Ronald Brautigam

• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959:
• 1Schubert: Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959: I. Allegro15:19
• 2Schubert: Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959: II. Andantino07:43
• 3Schubert: Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959: III. Scherzo - Trio04:56
• 4Schubert: Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959: IV. Rondo12:48
• Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960:
• 5Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960: I. Molto moderato18:54
• 6Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960: II. Andante sostenuto08:33
• 7Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960: III. Scherzo - Trio04:08
• 8Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960: IV. Allegro ma non troppo - Presto09:18
• Total Runtime01:21:39

Info for Schubert: Sonatas D. 959 & D. 960

Ronald Brautigam presents two of Franz Schubert's late masterpieces, the Sonatas D 959 and D 960. They are played here on a fortepiano built by Paul McNulty after an instrument from around 1819 by the Viennese instrument maker Conrad Graf and presumably similar to the instrument on which Schubert composed. Although it is tempting to see Schubert's final works as the testament of a doomed artist who feels his end is nearing, the reality is quite different: the composer displayed vitality, optimism and a prodigious capacity for work. His last two sonatas also show that he had reached a new level, having successfully emancipated himself from the Beethovenian model. These sonatas took a long time to establish themselves, not least because of their length, which was at first disconcerting for music-lovers and pianists alike. They are now considered to be among Schubert's finest works, alongside others dating from the last years of his life, such as the String Quintet in C major and the song cycle Winterreise. All these works seemed to herald considerable promise for future works; Schubert's untimely death buried a rich heritage, but even more beautiful hopes.

Ronald Brautigam, fortepiano Konrad Graf 1819, replica

Ronald Brautigam
one of Holland’s leading musicians, is remarkable not only for his virtuosity and musicality but also for the eclectic nature of his musical interests. He studied in Amsterdam, London and with Rudolf Serkin in the USA. In 1984 he was awarded the Nederlandse Muziekprijs, the highest Dutch musical award. Ronald Brautigam performs regularly with leading European orchestras under distinguished conductors such as Riccardo Chailly, Charles Dutoit, Bernard Haitink, Frans Brüggen, Philippe Herreweghe, Christopher Hogwood, Andrew Parrott, Bruno Weil, Iván Fischer and Edo de Waart. In the field of chamber music he has maintained a musical partnership with the violinist Isabelle van Keulen for more than 20 years. Besides his performances on modern instruments Ronald Brautigam has developed a great passion for the fortepiano, appearing with leading orchestras such as the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Tafelmusik, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Hanover Band, Freiburger Barockorchester, Concerto Copen- hagen and l’Orchestre des Champs-Elysées.

In 1995 Ronald Brautigam began his association with BIS. Among the more than 55 titles released so far are Mendelssohn’s piano concertos (with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta) and, on the fortepiano, the complete piano works of Mozart and Haydn. Also on the fortepiano, his ongoing series of Beethoven’s solo piano music has been described in the American magazine Fanfare as ‘a Beethoven piano-sonata cycle that challenges the very notion of playing this music on modern instruments, a stylistic paradigm shift.’ A cycle of Beethoven’s piano concertos, on modern piano, has likewise been warmly received, with instalments receiving various distinctions, including a MIDEM Classical Award in 2010.

Booklet for Schubert: Sonatas D. 959 & D. 960