RECORDING OF THE MONTH     CHOPIN Waltzes and Impromptus Vladimir Feltsman £11 post free World-wide VIVALDI The four seasons London Mozart Players/Juritz £12 post free World-wide BEETHOVEN Symphonies 4 and 5 LSO/Yondani Butt £12 post free World-wide

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Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Thirty-Three Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli op.120 [53:39], 6 Bagatelles op. 126 [19:56], Rondo a capriccio in G op.129 – "Rage over a lost penny" [04:54] Artur Schnabel (piano) Recorded 30th October and 2nd November 1937 (op.120), 13th January 1937 (opp.126 &129) in EMI Abbey Road Studio no.3 CD transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn NAXOS 8.110765 [78:29]

Schnabel’s Beethoven cycle began gloriously in 1932 with his sublime – if sonically challenged – interpretations of the last three sonatas. Having completed the sonatas in the meantime, the final volume closed equally gloriously with the first ever recording of Beethoven’s last large-scale masterpiece for piano, the Diabelli variations. Meanwhile the recording industry had been making strides and the sound here, if without the bloom and range of the best modern recordings, is revealed in Mark Obert-Thorn’s careful restorations to be more than acceptable – after a while one becomes so absorbed in the performance that the sound scarcely matters. As for the performance, it should be emphasized that this is not one of those occasions where Schnabel’s studio nerves failed him and left him flailing and fumbling. His fingers are on their best behaviour and allow us to appreciate an interpretation which finds a just and convincing solution to every myriad change of mood along the way. It would be reductive towards the many great pianists who have given their all to this elusive masterpiece to suggest that it remains the only version that counts, but it certainly set interpretative and intellectual standards which are a daunting challenge to all that followed. Schnabel is equally responsive to Beethoven’s cryptic op.126 Bagatelles, aptly described by Alec Robertson (quoted in the booklet) as "a sort of sound-sketch book" of Beethoven in his daily life. Schnabel is as truthful towards the moments of drollery or ugliness as to those of beauty and contemplation. Finally, the so-called "Rage over a Lost Penny" whose digital demands might seem risk territory for Schnabel, but which actually comes off splendidly, with furious aplomb. Naxos continues to provide its historical releases with exemplary presentation, in this case by Brian C. Thompson with a technical note from Obert-Thorn. If you don’t have Schnabel’s "Diabelli" then snatch this modestly priced issue up before the threatened extension of copyright laws kills it off. Christopher Howell     Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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