Schubert: Three Piano Pieces, D. 946 No. 1 & No. 3 | Lars Vogt (piano)

Franz Schubert's inner life, explored at the piano: At the 2007 Verbier Festival, Lars Vogt plays No. 1 and No. 3 of Schubert's Drei Klavierstücke ('Three Piano Pieces') (D. 946).

(00:00) Applause
(00:17) Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946 No. 1
(13:15) Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946 No. 3

The Drei Klavierstücke ('Three Piano Pieces') D. 946 were written by Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828) just months before his death. Like most of Schubert's compositions, they were published posthumously – exactly 40 years later – by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897). Retaining his own anonymity, he didn't release the pieces together as a three-part cycle, but rather individually, in three separate booklets. As yet, neither the question of whether the cycle of piano pieces had only been begun or was already fully completed, nor the question of the exact circumstances of its composition have been clarified. Although the Drei Klavierstücke D. 946 were not directly named amongst them, they might easily be counted among Schubert's other lyrical piano works, the Moments musicaux, and two collections of Impromptus.

What the pieces No. 1 and No. 3 have in common is that they are considered to be a form of 'soul picture' for the composer. Both are highly variable in structure, living from their internal contrasts. In the piano piece No. 1 – an Allegro assai in E-flat minor – there's an interplay between rather gloomy, almost obsessively driven passages and lighter, melodious passages in which time almost seems to stand still. The result is a back and forth between an agitated striving and wistful retrospection. In the piano piece No. 3 – an Allegro in C major – it's syncopated, bawdy dance rhythms which are interrupted by more melodious and quieter sections. The piece seems like a kind of scherzo, in which the expectations of the listener are being toyed with. Both pieces have a sense of aching to them, which pianist Lars Vogt expresses with great sensitivity, as if there were a deep understanding between himself and Franz Schubert.

German pianist Lars Vogt (1970- 2022) was considered a musician of particular subtlety, and carved out his soloist career early. At 20 years of age he earned second place at the 1990 Leeds Piano Competition, would go on to perform with many major symphony orchestras. He also initiated Germany's popular chamber music festival 'Spannungen', which has been being held in a power plant in North Rhine-Westphalia since 1998. In 2012, he received a piano professorship in Hanover. He also drew acclaim as a conductor, in 2019 becoming chief conductor of the Orchestre de chambre de Paris. The beloved musician died in September of 2022, aged only 51.

This concert was part of the 2007 Verbier Festival – a highly-regarded gathering of the greats of classical music, held once a year in the Swiss Alps since 1994. In addition to the extensive concert program, the Verbier Festival offers up-and-coming artists an opportunity to work with the very best artists of the classical music scene.
Founded in the year 2000, the Verbier Festival Orchestra is made up of highly talented young musicians. It offers young artists the opportunity to gain concert experience under the direction of leading conductors.

© Idéale Audience & Arte France

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