Maurizio Pollini, a renowned pianist, passed on his profound admiration for Schubert’s music to his son, Daniele Pollini, also a talented pianist. A few years ago, they embarked on a joint Schubert project, culminating in a recording session at Munich’s Herkulessaal in June 2022. Sadly, Maurizio Pollini passed away in March 2024 at the age of 82. This final recording stands as a tribute to a pioneering musician who was associated with Deutsche Grammophon for over five decades.
On this album, Maurizio Pollini performs Schubert’s Piano Sonata in G major, D 894, while Daniele plays the Moments musicaux, D 780. The father-son duo also collaborated on the Fantasia in F minor for four hands, D 940. The album, Maurizio Pollini · Daniele Pollini – Schubert, will be available digitally and on CD from October 25, 2024, accompanied by a booklet featuring commentary on the repertoire by Paolo Petazzi. The first movement of the Fantasia is already available for streaming, and the third movement of the Sonata will be released on October 4.
This project was a labor of love for both musicians. Reflecting on his father’s passion for Schubert, Daniele Pollini shared, “My father’s interest in Schubert went beyond his remarkable solo piano works. He performed Winterreise with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and often included Schubert’s vocal and choral works in the concert series he organized. For me, Schubert is simply one of the most extraordinary composers who ever lived.”
Having previously recorded Debussy’s En blanc et noir together in 2016, the duo considered an album of Schubert’s four-hand pieces. Ultimately, they chose the Sonata in G major, Moments musicaux, and Fantasia to showcase the wide range of Schubert’s expressive piano compositions, encompassing sonatas, short pieces, and four-hand works.
The Piano Sonata in G major, D 894, is a piece filled with poetic intensity, especially in Maurizio Pollini’s hands. Composed in 1826, it foreshadows Schubert’s final three sonatas and is equally grand in scale and emotion. Schumann famously referred to it as Schubert’s “most perfect sonata in form and spirit.” Daniele Pollini recalls his father’s deep appreciation for the contrasts in the opening movement, noting the dramatic development section and the use of extreme dynamics.
The Moments musicaux, D 780, a set of six short works likely composed between 1823 and 1828, is meant to be performed as a complete cycle. Daniele Pollini highlights the emotional depth of these pieces, particularly the melancholy conclusion of the final piece. His performance captures the nuanced shifts in mood, dynamics, and tempo that define this inventive set of works.
Paolo Petazzi describes the Fantasia in F minor, composed in early 1828, as the pinnacle of Schubert’s output for piano four hands. Daniele Pollini agrees, noting the work’s sophisticated polyphonic and timbral complexities that go beyond what two hands alone can achieve. The Fantasia demands perfect synchronization between the two pianists, and despite it being the first time Daniele and his father worked together on a four-hand piece, they achieved remarkable harmony.
This album not only serves as a reflection on the legacy of Maurizio Pollini but also offers a glimpse into Daniele Pollini’s unique artistry. It captures a special shared moment between father and son. “What was meant to be a significant event became something irreplaceable,” Daniele reflects. “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to record this album dedicated to Schubert and to have played alongside my father on his final recording.”
