Thursday 1 September 2011

Schubert - 6 Moments Musicaux [Curzon] 

This is the other major work on this disc, the superb Piano Sonata 21 i spoke about a few months ago [17th May 2011], the Moments Musicaux are not my most favourite piano solo works by Schubert, and yet they show Schubert at bringing together six pieces, all with that infectious Schubert dance rhythms, maybe all these 'bits' of pieces couldn't be used elsewhere, so Schubert brought them together in an album of sorts. 

Clifford Curzon was English, born in 1907, he died in 1982 at the age of 75, in some ways he seems to be a forgotten Pianist, maybe it's due to the fact he hated recordings and he made so few, and that's really how we remember him, but it's good to have this record of his Schubert, also the cover photo is excellent [by Fritz Curzon], showing a glowing Curzon, nice pose, and great use of hands, the dark and light really well caught, and the box with the lettering well thought out, Schubert at the top, Curzon at the bottom, and the works inbetween. 

Here's Clifford Curzon playing the third Moments Musicaux on YouTube, really enjoying himself, he has a certain way with his hands and head, almost joining in singing!, it also contains the Impromptu that's on this disc as well.