Schubert: Piano Sonatas D664, 568, 537
Paul Lewis (piano) (Harmonia Mundi)
(scroll down for English review)
李維斯再推出一張舒伯特專輯，以CD數目計應該是他的第11張了。如果你覺得他已經錄無可錄，「D六百幾、五百幾的鋼琴作品聽來幹甚麼」，這就是最應該聽、必定要聽的理由。後期作品雖好，但要我真的要選一首最喜歡的舒伯特鋼琴奏鳴曲，我會選D664（軌一至三）。D568（軌四至七）通常只在全集出現，但D537的小快板（軌九）是舒伯特最有童真的旋律之一。
再簡單來說，這三首奏鳴曲所表現出的，就是我最喜歡的舒伯特風格。喜怒哀樂都有，但全部都是溫和的，恰到好處的。不少人聽古典音樂，較低層次的，單是以自己聽古典音樂便沾沾自喜。高一層次的，就會以聽最深刻為目標，聽到最難、最長、最晚期風格的就以為到了山頂，成為高人了。去到那兒，更應該返回這些作曲家較簡樸平實的作品，看看能否得到接近的感受。重點不是這樣才叫高，而是令自己愈聽愈闊。
李維斯這裏的演奏令我毫無保留推介，嚴謹的速度及節奏，帶出最燦爛的琴音，尤其是高音充滿光暈，令我難以抗拒。順帶一提，D537的小快板（軌九）我當初是看法國片《The Taste of Others》認識的。
This new Schubert album from Paul Lewis had him setting down the middle-period sonatas, which are often overlooked by those who are obsessed with late-period Schubert. Truth be told, the selection of D664 (tracks 1-3) and D537 (tracks 8-10) sonatas represent the best of the middle-period sonatas, and D664 is actually my favourite Schubert sonata, if I’m obliged to pick one.
Together with the lesser D568 (tracks 4-7) sonata this is the Schubert that I like best. There are joy and sadness, unrest and contentment, but at a milder range. It’s good to appreciate the stylistic apex of a great composer (usually the late pieces) but one shouldn’t just stop there. Instead, go back to their earlier work and see if you could feel anything close to those most striking pieces.
I’m finally convinced of Paul Lewis’ prowess in these Schubert sonatas. With the utmost discipline he evoked the sheer glory of the piano sound, most notably in the high registers. If you’re new to the D537, the Allegretto (track 9) carries a naivete that even Mozart wouldn’t have reached. And I got to fall in love in the tune when watching the French film The Taste of Others.