Sonates Pour Piano D.850, D.959 & D.960 / Moments Musicaux D.780 / Allegretto, D.915

These recordings of Schubert’s late piano sonatas, performed by the legendary Artur Schnabel, form a foundational pillar of the 20th-century classical discography. Originally captured during the 1930s, these sessions were part of a landmark effort by EMI and its international subsidiaries, including La Voix de Son Maître, to document the core piano repertoire. Schnabel, a devotee of the Austro-German tradition, sought to capture the profound interiority and structural complexity of Schubert's final works, moving away from the ornamental interpretations prevalent in the early era of recorded sound.

Schnabel’s approach to these sonatas was characterized by a rigorous intellectual honesty that initially divided critics but ultimately set the standard for generations of pianists. His ability to balance the lyrical, song-like melodies of Schubert with the rigorous formal demands of the compositions established these records as essential listening. This specific release on the La Voix de Son Maître label serves as a testament to the enduring technical and artistic influence of Schnabel's interpretations, which remain deeply respected for their sobriety and emotional depth.