On 20 September, Francesco released ‘Schubert Last Piano Sonatas’ on Pentatone, his debut on the label. Click here to purchase, stream and download the album.
After years of engagement with these extraordinary works, the long musical journey that connects Francesco to Schubert’s music is reflected in these recordings. The works themselves are arguably among the most existential music ever written for the piano, juxtaposing beauty with sadness and celebrating life, whilst simultaneously anticipating the composer’s untimely death.
“Full of caution, but without fear, he tackles the works. Piemontesi ponders, but in the Andante of the B flat major, despite the hopelessness, knows how to give space and ease to the incoming light.” NZZ am Sonntag, September 2019
“Piemontesi has the ability to shape the various musical characters with incredible plasticity, with a transformative power which resembles that of an actor. But as spontaneous and lively as his interpretations sound in detail, they appear at the same time well thought-out and wisely balanced in their proportions.” Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, September 2019