Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Hungarian Melody for piano in B minor (Ungarische Melodie), D. 817
2. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 899 (Op. 90): Impromptu No. 1, Allegro molto moderato
3. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 899 (Op. 90): Impromptu No. 2, Allegro
4. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 899 (Op. 90): Impromptu No. 3, Andante
5. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 899 (Op. 90): Impromptu No. 4, Allegretto
6. German Dances (6) for piano, D. 820: German Dance No. 1
7. German Dances (6) for piano, D. 820: German Dance No. 2
8. German Dances (6) for piano, D. 820: German Dance No. 3
9. German Dances (6) for piano, D. 820: German Dance No. 4
10. German Dances (6) for piano, D. 820: German Dance No. 5
11. German Dances (6) for piano, D. 820: German Dance No. 6
12. Moments musicaux (6) for piano, D. 780 (Op. 94): Book 1, Moment musicaux No. 2, Moderato
13. Moments musicaux (6) for piano, D. 780 (Op. 94): Book 1, Moment musicaux No. 2, Andantino
14. Moments musicaux (6) for piano, D. 780 (Op. 94): Book 1, Moment musicaux No. 3, Allegro moderato
15. Moments musicaux (6) for piano, D. 780 (Op. 94): Book 2, Moment musicaux No. 4, Moderato
16. Moments musicaux (6) for piano, D. 780 (Op. 94): Book 2, Moment musicaux No. 5, Allegro vivace
17. Moments musicaux (6) for piano, D. 780 (Op. 94): Book 2, Moment musicaux No. 6, Allegretto
18. Grazer Galopp, for piano in C major, D. 925

Disc 2:

1. Allegretto for piano in C minor, D. 915
2. Pieces (3) for piano (impromptus), D. 946: Impromptu No. 1, Allegro assai*Andante*Andantino
3. Pieces (3) for piano (impromptus), D. 946: Impromptu No. 2, Allegetto*L'istesso tempo
4. Pieces (3) for piano (impromptus), D. 946: Impromptu No. 3, Allegro
5. German Dances (12) for piano (Ländler), D. 790 (Op. posth. 171)
6. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142): Impromptu No. 1, Allegro moderato
7. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142): Impromptu No. 2, Allegretto
8. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142): Impromptu No. 3, Theme, Andante
9. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142): Impromptu No. 4, Allegro scherzando

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #183276 in Music
• Released on: 1998-06-09
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Customer Reviews

Great Performance ruined by bad recording
I can't stand it when recording engineers go out of their way to ruin recordings. For some reason, the engineer for this recording chose to place some microphones very close to the piano, and some far. The result is very unnatural sound. I wish I could find a good recording of the Musical Moments, but have struck out twice. (My other recording is with Lupu, which is also a superb performance but a lousy recording - early digital). I wonder if Schiff is aware of the sabotage done to his art by over zealous recording engineers. As far as the music goes, I find Schiff to be one of the best Schubert interpreters, which is why I bought this CD. Schiff plays this music superbly as expected.

Splendid Performances of Schubert by Schiff but....
I concur with an earlier reviewer who wasn't impressed with the sound quality of these early 1990s digital recording of some of Schubert's most familiar shorter works for the piano. However, I still highly recommend it based solely on Andras Schiff's beautiful playing. I've had this compilation sitting on my shelves for over a year and finally had a chance to listen to it a few days ago; despite the recording's flaws, Schiff's playing is majestic, poetic, demonstrating his empathy for Schubert's music. Both sets of Impromptus are played with ample dignity and grace; the same holds true for the Landler (waltzes) and Moments Musicaux. It's a pity that Decca's usually high fidelity standards weren't in evidence here, or else I would say that this two CD set would deserve recognition as among the finest recordings of these Schubert pieces currently available.

Schiff playing Schubert is the best
I concur with an earlier reviewer who wasn't impressed with the sound quality of these early 1990s digital recording of some of Schubert's most familiar shorter works for the piano. However, I still highly recommend it based solely on Andras Schiff's beautiful playing. I've had this compilation sitting on my shelves for over a year and finally had a chance to listen to it a few days ago; despite the recording's flaws, Schiff's playing is majestic, poetic, demonstrating his empathy for Schubert's music. Both sets of Impromptus are played with ample dignity and grace; the same holds true for the Landler (waltzes) and Moments Musicaux. It's a pity that Decca's usually high fidelity standards weren't in evidence here, or else I would say that this two CD set would deserve recognition as among the finest recordings of these Schubert pieces currently available.