Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D. 960

Franz Schubert

D. 960B-flat major

Stephen Kovacevich /

1994

Gil's top choice for Sonata No. 21. 'Excellent interpretation, beautiful piano sound, very well recorded.' He 'really nails the contemplative character' and 'takes the first one fairly slowly, and it's just gorgeous.' 'Wonderful musical judgment.'

Wilhelm Kempff /

1967

An 'iconic' and 'very natural interpretation.' Kempff's 'wonderful musical judgment' and 'beautiful golden tone' create a 'very steady interpretation... that's really beautiful.' 'Fairly good 1967 sound.'

Clifford Curzon /

1972

A 'wonderful interpretation.' The first movement is 'fairly dramatic' (a bit faster), the slow movement is 'beautiful,' and the final two movements have 'wonderful rhythmic inflection.' 'The poetry, especially towards the end of it, is just really gorgeous.'

Arthur Rubinstein /

1965

A 'classic.' Rubinstein's 'singing tone, his elegance, it really lent itself to the delicacy of this work, especially in those first two movements. Just an immaculate interpretation, very well recorded.'

Leif Ove Andsnes /

2004

An 'excellent' modern digital recording with 'beautiful piano tone, very sumptuously recorded.' It's a 'very strong interpretation, wonderful in the dramatic sections, but also very nuanced. Just really impeccable.'

Sviatoslav Richter /

1972 Live in Prague

An 'unmissable interpretation' and a 'mercurial Richter specialty.' The first movement is 'really slow' and the third is 'faster than the norm,' but 'he pulls it off.' It's 'very probing and beautifully imaginative.' Sound is 'slightly noisy.'

Artur Schnabel /

1939

Gil's 'own personal desert island choice.' An 'indelible, timeless... interpretation' that 'weaves all the different elements, the dramatic, the poetic, the beautiful colors and shapes.' 'Just the way he paces it, it just really draws you in.' Sound is 'fairly good' for its age.