Complete Schubert Solo Recordingson Deutsche Grammophon [9 CD + Blu-ray Audio]

“At his best, he played more beautifully than any of us” – lavish and noteworthy praise for Wilhelm Kempff by Alfred Brendel.  Kempff recorded almost exclusively for DG over the span of his 60-year recording career, and now Deutsche Grammophon celebrates his inspired Schubert recordings – long a go-to set for collectors – with a new remastering to 24-bit/192kHz on Blu-ray Audio disc plus 9 CDs. 

 “At his best, he played more beautifully than any of us.” ALFRED BRENDEL

 9-CDs + Blu-ray Audio mastered at 24-bit/192kHz presenting reference recordings of one of the great Schubertians

Limited Edition slipcase with mintpacks

44 page booklet with a new essay about Wilhelm Kempff’s Schubert recordings by Gregor Wilmes; previously unreleased photos and facsimiles of original recording protocols

 With a virtuosity that was very real, yet never drew attention to itself, Kempff’s Schubert was at its heart penetrating and inspired and the depth of his performances could convey the intimacy of a chamber ensemble or project the works as great symphonies for keyboard. It was Kempff’s perception that it was the function of a pianist’s virtuosity to serve, not to exploit; always the music had to be paramount.  Like many great artists he was notably erratic, but any impulsiveness or spontaneity was always driven by artistic will and the search for new discoveries.  Such was his inspiration, his recordings over his 60 year career – most of it for DG – are a treasure house of discovery; his Schubert recordings being among the finest examples, and not least remaining reference recordings of the repertoire.