Richard Egarr joins Sijie Chen for a rare performance of the complete Schubert Sonatinas with a period fortepiano, exploring performance practices of the time to experience these works with fresh eyes. The three Sonatinas (titled ‘Sonatas’ in Schubert’s autograph but changed by the publishers due to their modest length) were written in 1816, in a period when keyboard instruments were changing rapidly on their journey from harpsichords to modern-day pianos. The Sonatinas are intimate and perfectly crafted, moving seamlessly between lyrical and dramatic, tender and bittersweet - a reflection of Schubert’s approach to lieder writing.

Programme
Franz Schubert - Sonatina no.1 in D major, D384
Franz Schubert - Sonatina no.2 in a minor, D385
~ Interval ~
Franz Schubert - Sonatina no.1 in g minor, D408