Volume 2 of Martino
Tirimo’s Mozart piano sonata cycle is significantly more enjoyable
than Volume
1. It contains a couple of better-known Sonatas and the
increased ‘meat’ has clearly inspired the pianist to finer
things. There are still a couple of drawbacks though. Tirimo’s
take on this music is always serious. If the finger-work
can sometimes sparkle, it rarely if ever actually smiles. The
first movement of K273 exemplifies this to perfection. Every
care is taken over the score, but the spirit is lost. Perhaps
unsurprisingly the delicate dialogues of the Andante work much
better and all credit to Tirimo for actually choosing a true ‘Presto’ for
the finale; it is identifiably this tempo indication.
The C major, K309
is given the grandest of starts. Contrasts are charming. Strangely,
in this case it is the slow movement that is the problem. The
marking is ‘Andante un poco Adagio’ yet it seems very much
on the Adagio part of the scale. There is no denying the emotion
of the performance, though. The finale is ultra-delicate, with
a nicely balanced right-hand. Again it is a sense of play that
is lacking.
Tirimo puts K311
next, a bright D major work. The fortes in the slow
movement come across a little harshly - a shame as the pianos
are charming. Again, the finale could sparkle more. In the
famous A minor Sonata, Tirimo comes up against Lipatti at Besançon
and Arrau, famously on Philips and much less famously on a
valuable 1964 CBC telecast now on DVD, VAI 4388 coupled with
Beethoven Op. 111. Tirimo’s first movement is rather march-like
but does not sound too A minorish. If the Andante con espressione
could have more charm, the finale is nicely restless.
The D major Rondo is
a lovely little piece, undemanding yet perfectly proportioned. It
is a lovely way to close the disc.
The recording is
excellent and natural; the Steinway ‘D’ is clearly a superb
instrument - tuned by Stephan Wittig.
Colin Clarke
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Martino
Tirimo (piano). 
