Schubert & Szymanowski – Lucas Debargue

   in Piano International (Jan, 2018)
Lucas Debargue has already carved a firm footing among notable pianists today with his previous Sony releases: his disc of Scarlatti, Ravel, Chopin, Liszt and Grieg elicited five stars from IP in 2016. Here, the pianist seeks to dive deeper, exploring two lesser-known Schubert sonatas and treating them with infinite care, presenting them as the masterpieces they are. The unhurried first movement of D784 carries granitic grandeur; the brief central movement punches well above the weight its duration might imply. Debargue shades melodies exquisitely, while Schubert’s terracing of registers is intelligently delivered. The scamperings of the finale quickly explode like fireworks, Debargue’s touch reminding us of his excellence in Scarlatti.

We …