This collection brings together all of Alicia de Larrocha’s Schubert recordings for Decca on a single disc with her 1978 account of the A major Sonata, D.664 released internationally on CD for the first time. Opening with one of the most sheerly perfect melodies which Larrocha plays with the utmost elegance, the major work on this program is her intimate reading of Schubert’s final piano sonata, the great B flat major, D.960. In between come two of the composer’s shorter pieces: the scherzo-like A flat major Impromptu and the hymn like Moment musical.
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Piano Sonata in A major, D.664*
Impromptu in A flat major, D.899 No. 4
Moment musical, D.780 No. 6 in A flat major
Piano Sonata in B flat major, D.960
Alicia de Larrocha, piano
*FIRST INTERNATIONAL RELEASE ON CD
Recording Producers: James Walker (D.664, D.899); Michael Haas (D.960, D.780)
Recording Engineers: Simon Eadon, Andrew Pinder (D.664, D.899); Simon Eadon (D.960, D.780)
Recording Locations: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, London, UK, 16–18 June 1978 (D.664, D.899); Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, 1, 2 & 6 October 1981 (D.960, D.780)
‘For the Schubert A major Sonata she finds just the right simplicity and tender lyrical glow … the A flat Impromptu is perhaps most memorable for a beautifully nostalgic central trio. Her essentially ripe, full-bodied tone is faithfully reproduced.’ Gramophone, February 1980