Composers: Schubert
Compositions: Piano sonatas
Performers: Francesco Piemontesi p
Catalogue Number: Pentatone PTC5186742 (2CD)

Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi’s recording of Schubert’s final three piano sonatas, D958, D959 and D960 (his debut on Pentatone) follows in the wake of Sir András Schiff’s magisterial recording of (two of) the same sonatas. While you certainly don’t envy him, the two are very different animals, with Sir András on fortepiano and Piemontesi on modern piano. But Piemontesi offers up subtle, well-articulated readings in all three sonatas, which were recorded last year in the Salle de musique in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the D960 sonata live.