Alfred Brendel: Schubert’s Last Sonatas

"There are, within the output of some composers, triads of compositions that bring certain classes of works to a conclusion. The realization that –next to Mozart’s last symphonies and Beethoven’s last sonatas – Schubert’s piano sonatas in c minor, A major and B flat major belong to the handful of such peak achievements has come remarkably late. It took an inordinately long time until players and audiences discovered these pieces. Why have they now become so particularly cherished? What had kept them away from us until a few decades ago? What are their distinguishing features? What happens when great composers create several works next to one another? What are the differences, what the connections? And are these works, conceived so close to Schubert’s death, really documents of a musical farewell?"