Written around or during Schubert’s emotionally charged trips away from his native Vienna, each of the works on this album includes different reflections of folk music. From the earthy exuberance of a tarantella to nostalgic echoes of lilting ländler tunes, they contain some of the grandest gestures as well as the most intimate music Schubert ever wrote.

Shai Wosner’s second release for ONYX after his critically acclaimed Brahms and Schoenberg debut disc (ONYX4055) of 2010. For his all Schubert programme Wosner has chosen two late sonatas. The monumental but unfinished two-movement torso D840, and the genial D850 written at a time in the composers life when he was without money, out of love, and involved with rows with his publishers. This work was one of the few sonatas to be published during his lifetime, and finally he earned
300 florins. Schumann described this sonata as ‘impetuous, overflowing’ It is one of Schubert’s happiest works, in start contrast to the stark and monolithic D840.

The New York Times said of Wosner’s previous release (ON 4055) ’This is an inventively conceived and impressive recording."