BEETHOVEN: Complete Piano Sonatas, Volume 3 – Paul Lewis, piano – Harmonia mundi

by | Nov 8, 2007 | Classical CD Reviews | 0 comments

BEETHOVEN: Complete Piano Sonatas, Volume 3 – Paul Lewis, piano – Harmonia mundi HMC 901906.08, 3 CDs, 189 mins. ****:

This disc represents volume 3 in British pianist Paul Lewis’ complete survey of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas; the fourth and final volume will be released early next year. The three-disc set compiles nine Sonatas; Nos. 1 thru 4, Nos. 12 thru 14 and Nos. 22 and 23. Paul Lewis has chosen to offer the nine sonatas here in a decidedly non-chronological order, and this makes for some serious contemplation by the listener of the comparative virtues of the youthful, early sonatas and the more mature later works. I compared and contrasted the works presented here with two collections I greatly admire, my reference Beethoven set by Claudio Arrau, and a mid-Nineties collection by another very good Canadian pianist, Louis Lortie.

Paul Lewis’ collection compares remarkably well to both reference sets in terms of his choices of phrasing and tempi. He possesses a remarkable technical facility at the keyboard, and his use of ornamentation heavily evokes the work of Claudio Arrau throughout. And while there are some differences in the tempi he employs in the individual sonatas, only in a very few instances does his playing become somewhat unmannered. In terms of Paul Lewis’ technical performance, this set is first-rate, and any nitpicking on my part really boils down to personal preference for a particular performance. In this case, I just happen to really like how both Arrau and Lortie approach the Sonata No. 13 compared to the direction Lewis takes.

In terms of sound quality, the disc is also first class, and the recording of Paul Lewis’ Steinway in Berlin’s Teldec Studio is quite close-up, but also offers a palpable sense of the studio’s ambience. This is as realistic a recording of a modern piano as you’re likely to find, and the piano occupies a very real soundstage as it spreads across your listening room. Unfortunately, the incredibly good and close-up recording really reinforces my biggest caveat regarding this otherwise excellent disc, and the only thing that keeps it from earning five stars. Paul Lewis’ breathing is captured with the same fidelity as the rest of his performance; in places scattered throughout, it’s quite heavy, and when listened to at reference levels, can become somewhat of a distraction. Now we’re talking about an occurrence that is part of the recorded document, and it’s really not anywhere in the league of say, Glenn Gould’s uncontrolled singing (as utterly charming as many find it), and it’s only really obviously noticeable in a few places (the opening movement from the No. 14 “Moonlight” in particular). Repeat listenings did minimize my sensitivity to it; you, however, may have little if any issue with my perceived problem. Otherwise, I give this set my highest marks. Very highly recommended!

– Tom Gibbs
 

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