Schubert's Impromptu Op. 142, No. 2 - A Little Jewel Among Other Impromptus

Xenia E. Zilli
Oct 30, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Apr 2

Schubert's Impromptu Op. 142, No. 2, in A flat major .............................

Schubert composed it in 1827 when he was 30 years old. He had already written some of his major works, many when he was only 18 years old ! Beethoven, who had significantly influenced Schubert’s music, passed away in 1825. Tragically, Schubert died shortly after him, in 1828, at the age of only 31. A tremendous loss to the music world indeed !

Lyrical, romantic, and intimate, but also so pure in its melodious simplicity, Schubert's music never fails to touch my heart very deeply.

When I play it, I feel that it requires a very special, almost angelic approach, because it invokes the need in me to make it sound like a (celestial) song, to 'make' my piano sing it, especially this Impromptu, a little jewel among other Impromptus, which are unjustly more famous, and are played publicly much more than this one.

In its core, it conveys what Schubert, who has experienced more than just one dose of unhappiness and unrequited love in his short life, once said: "Anyone who loves music, can never be completely unhappy".

So, Impromptu Op. 142, No. 2, a little masterpiece that I am practising right now, brings into my days that special happiness and soul deep fulfilment that only playing great music can bring.

The most powerful moments in music are the most tender ones. It is that piece, that passage, that movement that touches the heart tenderly like a feather but resonates deeply all the way down to the core of our soul.

~ Xenia Elizabeth Zilli

Listen to Maria João Pires play it with tenderness, simplicity, prowess, and undeniable profound resonance with Schubert's pure but troubled soul, and understanding of the lyrical depth of his ever 'singing' music:

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7BEn3uodis

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/28lXdOzUo2opLy4gFAMVKw?si=b2f4444f40b64cd8