Schubert Piano Sonata D. 960, Impromptus D. 899 – No. 2, No. 3 [Pure DSD]

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was born two hundred and twenty-five years ago. Along with Beethoven, he counts as one of the founders of Romanticism and one of the most influential composers of all time. According to Nietzsche, Schubert had “the largest share of inherited musical wealth. He spent it with a free hand and a kind heart, so that for a few centuries musicians will continue to nibble at his ideas and inspirations. In his works we find a store of unused inventions; the greatness of others will lie in making use of those inventions.” (Friedrich Nietzsche, Human, All- Too-Human, Part II. trans. Paul V. Cohn)

Schubert’s three piano sonatas (19-21), D 958, 959 and 960, were written in the last years of the composer’s life and are today considered some of the most important works in the piano repertoire. Their individual, unmistakably original style is manifested in their cyclical construction and in a tonal universe reminiscent of the compactness of chamber music. The musical contents construct and exist in their own world, testifying both to their own origins and purpose and to the unique structural constellation of the cognitive-conscious world. This music comes from the very depths of the human soul.

He completed the Sonata in D 960 on 26 September 1828, premiered it himself in Vienna a few days later, and died less than two months afterwards, on November 19th. The three sonatas were published by Anton Diabelli ten years later, in 1838, dedicated to Schubert’s admirer Robert Schuman.

This is a Pure DSD 256 Stereo release. Recorded to Stereo DSD 256, it is made available in other DSD bit rates created in the DSD Domain using the Signalyst HQ Player 4 Pro mastering tools by NativeDSD Mastering Engineer Tom Caulfield. This album is available exclusively in Pure DSD at NativeDSD. It is not available on SACD.

The album is another in the series of Hunnia Records releases that feature the revolutionary Bogányi B-292 Piano – a first in the history of grand piano building – is constructed with a fully composite structure including a patented carbon fiber soundboard and action and recently the Carbon Core center plate, which helps reduce the total weight by 200 kgs (440 lbs), rendering the piano much more reliable and stable. The Bogányi Piano shape and soundboard, combined with the technical innovations, results in a uniquely refined sound. Every note played is refreshingly clear and distinct. This is a piano rethought, reassessed and reinterpreted from the perspective of the classical piano. The astonishing design created by Hungarian designer Péter Üveges equips the piano with merely two legs instead of the traditional three. The design is not only beautiful to the eye but also to the ear, helping to propel more sound towards the audience. The unique design also turns the piano into a piece of functional art and design. As spectacular architectural developments have revolutionized the structure of performing arts centers and concert halls alike, this new approach to piano design may well enrich the tradition of instrument making.

Misi Boros – Piano (Bogányi B-292 Grand Piano)