Schubert: Fantasy in F minor, D940; Six Polonaises, D824; Rondo in A, D951; Grand Duo, D812

These excellent reissues winningly capture the intimate sound-world of Schubert’s piano duet music. Both duos are well matched, with alert ensemble and pleasing conversational exchanges. Pires and Sermet evoke happy days of music-making with friends in pieces such as the D major and A major Rondos, and some exquisite dance miniatures. Alternatively, Queffélec and Cooper offer an effective portrayal of the Grand Duo’s symphonic conception, together with a dynamic performance of Lebensstürme and a delightfully fragrant account of the Variations, D813.

Our rating

4

Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:06 pm

COMPOSERS: Schubert
LABELS: Erato
WORKS: Fantasy in F minor, D940; Six Polonaises, D824; Rondo in A, D951; Grand Duo, D812
PERFORMER: Anne Queffélec, Imogen Cooper (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: 0630-11231-2 ADD (1979

These excellent reissues winningly capture the intimate sound-world of Schubert’s piano duet music. Both duos are well matched, with alert ensemble and pleasing conversational exchanges. Pires and Sermet evoke happy days of music-making with friends in pieces such as the D major and A major Rondos, and some exquisite dance miniatures. Alternatively, Queffélec and Cooper offer an effective portrayal of the Grand Duo’s symphonic conception, together with a dynamic performance of Lebensstürme and a delightfully fragrant account of the Variations, D813. With the Fantasy, though, more reverberant recording gives Pires and Sermet’s version a touch more atmosphere. Nicholas Rast

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