TREASURES Rudolf Buchbinder | Deutsche Grammophon

On his upcoming album, Rudolf Buchbinder celebrates his 80th birthday this year by turning to a composer whose music has accompanied him for decades. On it, the legendary pianist performs Schubert’s piano dances to mark this milestone in his remarkable career. 

In early 19th-century Vienna, dances such as German dances, Ländler and Ecossaises were hugely popular. Schubert’s collections captured the spirit of the time, answering the era’s appetite for sociability and entertainment. Yet beneath their graceful surface lies a deeper emotional world. Longing and melancholy resonate throughout these pieces, as if Schubert sensed how little time he would be granted on earth.  

These miniatures open fleeting glimpses into a mysterious cosmos, poised between the polished parquet of Vienna’s ballrooms and something almost transcendent. With esprit, spontaneity and the authority of a career spanning nearly seven decades, Buchbinder brings these worlds vividly to life. 

“Franz Schubert’s dances have accompanied me throughout my life. His dances – like his songs – are miniature worlds with a gigantic heart,” says the pianist. 

The full album is released on 29 May digitally and as a 2CD digipack edition and is now available for pre-order.