In the discussion of Liszt's B minor Sonata, Len Mullenger reproduced David Wright's review of Peter Katin's recording posted on Classical Music on the Web last month. From the review: >There is no doubt that the Liszt Sonata is great music, one of the >towering masterpieces of the piano repertoire. And then, I hear people >talk about some of Schubert's piano music being great as well, and while >I do not wish to disparage the melodious Schubert, one cannot possibly use >the same adjective fairly for, in so doing, injustice will be levelled at >Liszt. The patronizing tone ("the melodious Schubert") of this remark got my goat, even though I assume that the author is not on the list and I believe that it is good practice to steer clear of remarks that praise one composer at the expense of another. However, I couldn't help thinking about it as I listened to a newly acquired recording of Schubert's D. 958 and D. 959 Piano Sonatas by Mitsuko Uchida. I haven't heard all the recordings that have been made of these sonatas, but I have heard several, and I am really struck by these Uchida performances. They are very dramatic and bold, with some remarkable dynamic effects, and an attention to bringing out the significance of details in the writing that I found most illuminating. If this isn't "great" music, I don't know what is. These performances (particularly of the C minor Sonata) made a much bigger impression on me than her other recordings in this series for Philips, and I'd recommend them to anyone who finds the "melodious Schubert" comment as grotesque as I did. Nick [log in to unmask]