In the 1920s and 1930s, Artur Schnabel, and that too little known pianist Eduard Erdmann more or less single-handedly staged a revival of interest in Schubert's late piano sonatas. Alfred Brendel has recalled how Schnabel was perhaps the first pianist to give the A major Sonata, D959 its due, adding: ''Even today, his 1937 recording transmits the freshness of an exhilarating discovery''. Today, of course, we have a lengthening list of fine modern performances—from Brendel himself (Philips,2/89) as well as from such masters as Serkin (CBS, 10/90), Perahia (CBS, 8/88) and Pollini (DG, 4/88). The pioneering 1937 recording none the less retains a good deal of its old freshness and authority despite some occasionally fallible execution.
In a way, we are more in need, even now, of a proselytising approach to the D major Sonata, D850. Again, there is a fine Brendel recording on Philips (11/88), but there have also been some grievous losses to the catalogue, not least the deletion of distinguished LP recordings by Curzon (Decca) and Gilels (RCA). Schnabel's performance is predictably fine in the long slow movement but there are exaggerations elsewhere, not least his mannered way with the rhythms of the Scherzo.
By contrast, the Moments musicaux are treated with real intimacy and masterly insight—what, in a slightly different context, SP once called playing that is ''un-charming but touched deeply with tenderness and passion''. As for Schnabel's classic 1939 recording of Schubert's last piano sonata that in B flat D960, this has long been regarded as one of the Great Recordings of the Century. It is doubtful whether Schnabel ever played better than this on record or whether the interpretation has been surpassed in its comprehensive grasp of the issues that lie at the heart of this music. The recording is generally very good for its day.
These excellent transfers were originally made for the two Schnabel Schubert box-sets issued by EMI in 1983–84 (5/83 and 2/84). The performances themselves first reached CD on the Arabesque label ((CD) Z6571, (CD) Z6573, (CD) Z6575) as mentioned by AS in his CD round-up in December 1987. If you just want the B flat Sonata, the Arabesque on Z6575 is possibly the better buy, but this mid-price References set makes an attractive and economical package. Either way, Schnabel's account of D960 is a necessary acquisition for any representative collection of piano music on record.'