Vassily Primakov - Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 9, 23 & 32 (2003)

The theme of this Bridge Records album is Beethoven as an innovator, not only pushing the envelope of technical demands of pianists of his time, but also moving toward the development of increasingly sophisticated pianos. The three sonatas chosen for performance by Vassily Primakov brilliantly illustrate this point. The earliest sonata on the program is Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14/1. If anything, this sonata goes too far in showcasing the relative simplicity of Beethoven's earlier writing; the sonatas on either side of 14/1 demand a great deal more from both instrument and performer. Still, Primakov imbues this sonata with a splendid amount of grace, elegance, and playfulness. Next chronologically is the quite famous "Appassionata" Sonata, Op. 57. Here we find Beethoven truly exploring and exploiting the limits of pianist and instrument alike; Primakov delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance. Sound quality is quite clear, and even inner-voice notes in the most thunderous of passages are readily audible. The final selection is the Op. 111 Sonata in C minor, Beethoven's final contribution to the genre. Rather than testing the sonorous upper limits of the instrument, here Beethoven seems to be exploring (especially in the extensive second movement) the ability of the piano to deliver quiet elegance over a sustained period. Again, Primakov rises to the occasion with another stylistically distinct performance that guides listeners through the profound changes not only in Beethoven's music, but in the piano's abilities.

Review by Mike D. Brownell