The Andantino from Schubert’s Piano Sonata in A major, D959, is one of the strangest and most gripping slow movements in the piano repertoire. It begins with a gentle barcarolle — melancholic, almost nostalgic — but what follows is anything but peaceful. In just a few minutes, Schubert unleashes an emotional rupture: a violent outburst that feels closer to hallucination than variation, filled with sforzandos, fury, and ghostly echo effects.
In this new video from Hyperion, Scottish pianist Steven Osborne dives into the full emotional arc of this movement with striking clarity and control. He never oversells the drama, yet the shock of that central explosion lands with devastating force. The return of the opening theme, now haunted and fragile, leaves no doubt that something has shifted.
This performance is part of Osborne’s latest release for Hyperion Records, which pairs the sonata with the Moments musicaux. It’s a reminder of his long-standing relationship with the label and his ability to make even the most familiar works sound newly urgent.
A former BBC New Generation Artist and winner of the Clara Haskil and Naumburg competitions, Osborne has built a quiet yet deeply respected career, balancing core repertoire with more adventurous projects. This is a powerful example of what he does best: let the music speak — and unsettle — on its own terms.
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