How nice that this thread should pop up now as I was just looking into
expanding my relatively meagre Schubert sonata collection!

Ruben Stam <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I still like my Ashkenazy D.960, which was my personal introduction, but
>I don't believe he has recorded any others.

An error there.  The delightful A major sonata, D.664, one of my all-time
favourites (what a wonderfully sweet, melodious, songful opening!), was
recorded most successfully by Ashkenazy way back in 1966, when he was still
making _real_ music at the piano.

At the moment, I'm a little less convinced by Schubert's moody minor-key
sonatas, like the A minor, D784, but I'll live quite happily with
Ashkenazy's and Pires' (the latter on DG).

As with many other fellow List members, yes, I'd agree that a good
starting point would be the B-flat, D.960.  As far as recordings go, I
enjoy Clifford Curzon, Stephen Kovacevich (Hyperion; haven't heard the EMI
yet), Radu Lupu and Richter the most.  I've heard very good things about
the newly-released Stephen Hough (Hyperion) from a critic-friend in the UK,
and am looking forward to hear it soon.  I was also told that Annie
Fischer's is also quite extraordinary, and have already ordered it, and I
am waiting impatiently for it to arrive finally.

I haven't heard all of Brendel's Schubert, but judging from the few discs
of his digital cycle on Philips that I've heard, it seems to me that he
takes on very sensible, intelligent views of the music, although he somehow
lacks that last ounce of purity of spirit and freshness that Schubert's
music seems to require.

Anyone has had any experience with Imogen Cooper's highly-praised cycle on
Ottavo?

Lionel Choi
Singapore
http://www.singnet.com.sg/~lionelc/dummies.html