Murray Perahia is less known for his Beethoven recordings than his lauded foray into the world of JS Bach. Judging by the pianist’s recent recording of Beethoven’s Op. 14, 26, and 28 piano sonatas, shows Perahia as one of the finest Beethoven interpreters playing today. These sonatas are not the most well-known of Beethoven’s cycle. This shouldn’t dissuade people from investigating this disk however. Perahia’s playing is enough of a reason to give this album from Sony a go.
Perahia’s treatment of the sonatas on this disk is illuminating. Perahia’s recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations achieved similar results. On that disk, Perahia remained true to the music. There were no gratuitous indulgences, but Perahia still drew out the innate drama in Bach’s music.
On this recording, he does the same thing. Perahia’s deft touch, his sense of structure, and his musicality ooze from each of the sonatas. But Perahia’s playing is also ravishingly textured. The Op.28 sonata is an absorbing listen. The sonata’s character is meticulously formed and then articulated in breath stealing fashion by Perahia.
The Beethoven sonata field is crowded with sets and single disks. Few are played with as much affect and sensitivity as this recent disc by Murray Perahia.
