This disc is a reminder of two sides of Schubert: one,
his fecund imagination that cannot be always controlled within the confines
of the stolid form of the Sonata and two, his love of dance and his
ability to write attractive tunes in simple forms with an immediate
appeal. Schubertiads must have been right varied affairs. These dances
are just a few of the 193 published during Schubert’s lifetime. They
probably emerged out of improvisations and were jotted down the next
morning. There are sixteen of them, which comprise the whole of track
5, but they are indexed which is a particular pleasure and a facility,
which should be employed more often.
The recording also presents 3 Ländler, an Austrian
style Waltz of simple charm and which be should be played with a gentle
rubato - generally a repeated eight-bar phrase followed a contrasting
eight which modulate to a related key. Then follows a contrasted second
section, which might end the piece as in the third Ländler or as
in the first, might be followed by the original melody again. The ‘Valses
Nobles’ are more Germanic in character and in my view less interesting,
although Schubert, being a great genius, at times transforms the mundane
into the inspired. For example in the second valse after the four square
rhythm repeated over a pedal point there is a miraculous change of key.
From time to time a phrase or whole passage presages
the Chopin of the Nocturnes as in the wonderful ‘Grazer Fantasy’ only
discovered 40 years ago in a chest which had belonged to a friend of
Schubert’s one Josef Huttenbrenner. He had copied out some of the master’s
works and this single movement Fantasy is known in no other source.
The Fantasy in C major, known as the ‘Wanderer’ is
a sonata in all but name being in four movements. The second is based
on a theme from the song ‘Der Wanderer’ published in 1821. Using the
fantasy form Schubert gains greater freedom than if tackling standard
Sonata form. He "dissects the theme into three melodic figures
from which derive the other sections. The later Romantics such as Liszt,
would use the same techniques in their works, especially in the symphonic
tone poems" (quoting John DesMarteau in the booklet notes.)
I have no quibble at all with Walter Hautzig. These
are uncomplicated Schubert performances, which are well thought through
and nicely executed. Hautzig is Viennese born and has lived in the USA
since the 40s. He was a student of Busoni and of Artur Schnabel. He
is a regular recitalist throughout the world. From that pedigree I for
one do not intend to argue with his interpretations. The recorded sound
is adequate; rather boomy in the bass at climaxes and boxy at times.
Nevertheless this is a CD to recommend to anyone. It is well played
and attractive programmed and was recorded as part of the celebrations
for the 200th anniversary of Schubert’s birth.
Gary Higginson
Walter Hautzig, piano