Dana Muller & Gary Steigerwalt - Schubert: Complete Works for Piano Four Hands, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (1996-1998)

One difficulty with piano four-hands music is the issue of muddiness in trying to pull out that much sound from a single instrument. Sadly, pianists Dana Muller and Gary Steigerwalt do not always overcome this obstacle in this second volume of Schubert's works for piano four-hands. There are other sound issues present on the recording, most notably a persistent buzz emanating from the piano during the Overture to Fierabras. Apart from these sound quality issues, listeners will likely find this recording adequate, but nothing more. The ensemble between the two pianists is consistently strong and their dynamic range is acceptable. There is no extra excitement or sensitivity brought to the table, however, and the performance is lacking in the quintessential, ethereal qualities that make Schubert's music what it is. For a more vibrant and emotionally infused performance, listeners may wish to consult either the Duo Tal & Groethuysen recording on the Sony label or the Gulda and Hinterhuber recording on the Naxos label.