Staier's latest is at least the equal in quality and intensity. He takes the Sonata op. 78, 'Fantasy,' with a little more energy and edginess than Mitsuko Uchida's recording, which I have always like. In fact, "edgy" is just the word I'm looking for. I find that same edginess in Staier's Bach, and it just doesn't work for me there, but that is what makes both his Haydn and Schubert stand out.
The recording is on a copy of an 1827 Graf, built by Christopher Clarke. I hesitate to call any of the Graf copies I've heard "fortepianos": they sound very much like today's modern piano, except with more character. The instrument on the recording appears to be tuned A440; I assume the combination of earlier scaling with higher string tension for the higher pitch changes the character somewhat. Regardless, it is a lovely sound, and the sound engineering is simply grand.
Schubert's late sonatas are large, symphonic works. Op. 78 is a work of almost 40 minutes. I think these are where I feel the real genius of Schubert; his symphonies, chamber pieces, and lieder are lovely. His sonatas are profound, both in scope and depth. I don't think just anyone can play these: the performer needs sufficient genius of their own. Staier clearly has the right stuff.
The recording concudes with the four late Impromptusop. posth. 142. It's a little disorienting not to hear these paired with the early Impromptus, but that made me listen a little more closely. These are not trivial, and the four could almost constitute a sonata: even the keys – f minor, a-flat major, b-flat major, and returning to f minor – make harmonic sense.
This is a stupendous recording, not to be missed.
