Bridge Records are slowly releasing a complete Beethoven Sonata
survey from Garrick Ohlsson, so I was slightly confused to get
this apparently one-off recital by young Soviet pianist Vassily
Primakov. They presumably want to showcase his talents, but how
it sits alongside the Olsson cycle I’m not quite sure. Anyway,
here we have a miscellaneous selection of sonatas, early-ish,
middle and late, giving us a sort of overview of Beethoven’s development
in this area.
The playing is very
assured, as might be expected form a rising virtuoso trying
to make his mark in such a competitive arena. I’m glad to say
the interpretations are mainly non-interventionist, so there
should be very little to upset anyone. Primakov certainly has
a sure grasp of architecture, managing to give the listener
a real feeling of a whole journey rather than indulging in any
tiresome interpretative point-scoring along the way. Tempos
in the outer movements generally sound well judged to my ears,
and the technique is secure enough to enjoy the odd thrill and
spill where Beethoven lets his hair down, as in the development
section of the Appassionata’s first movement. He gauges
the long second half of Op.111 with real sensibility to its
shape and organic growth, along the way providing the requisite
atmosphere and colour in the piano’s topmost register.
If I have a quibble,
it’s that while the slow movements of the two ‘big’ sonatas
seem well judged - that is, not too slow or indulgently romanticised
– he does linger in the Allegretto of the E major, a strange
decision given his decisions in the other works. It simply sounds
stodgy and lacking the minuet character which, as Malcolm McDonald’s
excellent note points out, is so obviously what Beethoven intended.
Primakov also occasionally distorts a phrase with a tiny hesitation,
especially before ‘busy’ passages. This doesn’t distract every
time, and probably wouldn’t be an issue at a concert, but here
and there it is just a tiny bit irritating, especially when
compared to the clean-cut phrasing of, say, Richard Goode on
Nonesuch. It’s a small point, and very much personal opinion
which may not even be noticed by others.
Nice warm audio quality
and a well regulated Steinway complete what is, on the whole,
an enjoyable Beethoven recital from another young pianist worth
watching. Whether it will tempt you to part with full price, I’m
not sure, especially given the plethora of budget and mid-price
competition, but there is obvious talent on display.
Tony Haywood
Vassily Primakov
(piano) 
