Schubert

A lyricist in a thousand', Lupu has, naturally, placed Schubert at the centre of his repertoire and conjured from a seemingly recalcitrant black-and-white instrument a range of vocal colours and nuances that even a Souzay or Fischer-Dieskau might envy. Heard at his greatest in the sombre A minor Sonata, D845, he recreates a place where even the most outwardly genial phrase is troubled and despairing. Then turn to the A major Sonata's finale (D664) and you hear a pianist who can change from blazing defiance to a delectable lightness and vivacity.

This album includes all of the completed piano sonatas by Franz Schubert. These works occupy a unique realm within the piano literature. Russian pianist Larissa Dedova has previously recorded highly acclaimed recordings of the complete piano works of Debussy and Ravel for Centaur Records.

Not 'just another Schubert recording, but a major artistic achievement’ [Christian Girardin, harmonia mundi] Matthias Goerne is totally invested in the recording and editing process. Vol. 9 (the last one in the series) is due out towards the end of 2014. Future recordings will include Brahms with Christophe Eschenbach and Mahler (arr. Berio) Early Songs to be recorded in September 2014 with Josep Pons and the BBCSO.