Four Impromptus, D. 899:
I. Allegro molto moderato (C Minor)
II. Allegro (E-Flat Major)
III. Andante (G-Flat Major)
IV. Allegretto (A-Flat Major)

Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960:
I. Molto moderato
II. Andante sostenuto
III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace con delicatezza
IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Pianist Christian Blackshaw presents A Moment in Time, an intimate exploration of Franz Schubert’s late masterworks. The album features the Four Impromptus, D. 899, written in 1827, in which Schubert transforms the simple Impromptu into “a harmonically connected cycle of unparalleled beauty.” From the dramatic intensity of the first to the serene beauty of the third and the triumph over darkness in the fourth, Blackshaw reveals the depth, subtlety, and emotional brilliance of Schubert’s music. The album also presents the Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960, one of Schubert’s last major works for solo piano, composed during spring and autumn of 1828. Its movements traverse hope, despair, and luminous introspection, culminating in a finale of quiet triumph. For Blackshaw, these performances are a personal reflection - a snapshot in time of both Schubert’s genius and his own lifelong engagement with these works.

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This album was recorded between 27-29 February 2024 in Snape Maltings Concert Hall in Snape, United Kingdom