00:00 - Molto moderato / 20:14 - Andante
sostenuto / 31:06 – Scherzo / 35:56 - Allegro ma non troppo
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Schubert's last sonatas
Franz Schubert's last three piano sonatas,
numbered 958, 959 and 960 in
Deutsch's catalogue of Schubert's complete works, are the composer's last major
compositions for the piano. They were written during the last months of
Schubert's life, between the spring and autumn of 1828, but were not published
until about ten years after his death, in 1838–39. Like the rest of Schubert’s
piano sonatas, they were mostly neglected in the 19th century. By the late 20th
century, however, public and critical opinion had changed, and Schubert's last
sonatas are now considered amongst the most important of the composer's mature
masterpieces. They are part of the core piano repertoire, appearing regularly
on concert programs and recordings.
One of the reasons for the long period of
neglect of Schubert's piano sonatas seems to be their dismissal as structurally
and dramatically inferior to the sonatas of Beethoven. In fact, the last
sonatas contain distinct allusions and similarities to works by Beethoven, a
composer Schubert venerated. However, musicological analysis has shown that
they maintain a mature, individual style. Schubert's last sonatas are now
praised for their mature style, manifested in unique features such as a
cyclical formal and tonal design, chamber music textures, and a rare depth of
emotional expression.
The three sonatas are cyclically
interconnected by diverse structural, harmonic and melodic elements tying
together all movements in each sonata, as well as all three sonatas together;
consequently, they are often regarded as a trilogy. They also contain specific
allusions and similarities to other Schubert compositions, such as his
Winterreise song cycle; these connections point to turbulent emotional content
in the sonatas, often understood as highly personal and autobiographical.
Indeed, some researchers have suggested specific psychological narratives for
the sonatas, based on historical evidence concerning the composer's life.
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