It may be hard to believe now, but before these Sonatas were
recorded by Vox in the early 1960s collectors would have been
involved in very heavy expense if they wished to own recordings
of all of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas. Even if they could afford
this the choice of versions was very limited. The publication
of recordings of all of Beethoven’s solo piano music in a series
of comparatively inexpensive Vox Boxes was therefore to be welcomed,
even if the performer was far from well known at that time,
at least in England. In the event collectors who were prepared
to risk buying them were richly rewarded with performances that
were always interesting, intelligent and faithful to the composer,
even if the recording was at best variable.
This was only the first cycle of the Beethoven Sonatas that
Brendel was to record, and it would be hard to argue that it
was his best. Nonetheless it has very considerable merits. The
present selection is given the title “Favourite Piano Sonatas”
which seems to mean those with nicknames. For all their virtues
it would be hard otherwise to justify including Les Adieux
and the Pastorale rather than any of the last three Sonatas.
However if you take the title as no more than advertising puff
what you have here is a varied selection of eight Sonatas. The
performances are above all characterful and eager to make the
most of the quirky individuality of each movement. Indeed Brendel
seems to relish that individuality much more than any conventional
opportunities for pianistic gesture. The slow movement and final
fugue of the Hammerklavier are played with immense concentration
and care whereas the first movement can at times seem almost
humdrum. The Moonlight receives an especially rapt and
beautiful performance, but throughout all the discs there is
a sense that the player is seeking to reveal above all the daring
of Beethoven’s inspiration. When first issued as LPs the recording
was, to put it kindly, variable. What is now presented on these
discs may not be up to the highest standards one might hope
for but it never gets in the way of enjoying the music and the
performances.
All in all these are a fascinating set of performances which
would make an admirable addition to any collection of Beethoven
Sonatas, especially as a comparison with other artists or indeed
with Brendel’s own later performances. There is a brief but
interesting note on the music by Malcolm Macdonald. At the low
price at which the set is available these are discs that should
have wide appeal.
John Sheppard
Alfred Brendel (piano) 