Impromptus; Moments musicaux; Adagio & Rondo; ‘Grazer’ Fantasie; Variations
Vladimir Feltsman (piano)
Nimbus NI6442 158:00 mins (2 discs)
I generally avoid lengthy series of collected works, organised in ways composers would never have recognised. The completist approach fosters a tendency to play lighter pieces with great portentousness in order to justify their inclusion. Vladimir Feltsman, though, believes ‘Schubert was incapable of writing bad music or a mediocre tune’ which, at least, is the right spirit for this sort of project.
Feltsman’s liner notes reveal his understanding of Schubert’s miniatures as ‘calculated works put together in a specific order’, despite their being published mainly piecemeal and posthumously. He finds anything other than ‘whole opus’ approaches ‘unfortunate’. Well, I still recommend listening to selections because more nuances emerge than when we try to swallow over-large chunks.
That said, some interpretations only make sense in sequence; for instance, the Moment musical No. 2 is exquisitely healing after the robust No. 1. The unexpectedly violent No. 5 nearly made me fall off my chair, after which No. 6 was a huge relief. Indeed, the piano does sound bright and heavy at times, evoking not charming Schubert but rather a badly behaved Beethoven. Feltsman approaches all the music with huge affection.
The closing fragmentary Themes and Variations are played as lovingly as the rest, including the doubtful closing Fantasie. Nothing is hasty, and no opportunity to tease out a melody is wasted, even in sparkling passagework. The readings are mostly unfussy, though he occasionally allows himself endearing, almost exaggerated tempo modifications at turning points. His pedalling is varied and the voicing of melody, especially inner voices, a continuous delight.
