András Schiff: Schubert – Piano Sonata D 537 op 164 – II. Allegretto quasi andantino

SCHUBERT, Franz

Piano Sonata in A minor D 537 op. 164

II. Allegretto quasi andantino

András Schiff, guest professor

Plamena Mangova, student

András Schiff begins his commentary on the 2nd movement by indicating that the staccato has to be less abstract and the left hand has to be played as a pizzicato less dry and with some vibrato. He then makes indications regarding the pedals, the articulation in the right hand, and the character, which at a certain moment is freer in consonance with the tonality. We are in the Neapolitan tonality and the accompaniment has to be thought of more as water and with more pedal so that the pizzicato is not so dry. In the moment of greatest contrast, the difference between the warmth of before and the cold and martial character of now must be marked more (the professor mentions Schubert’s Winterreise again and the slow mov. of a Symphony by G. Mahler.). Later, the warm character returns: the semiquavers in the left hand have to be more melodic and the epilogue must be very beautiful, saying goodbye.  

Language: English