Beethoven Piano Sonatas: Moonlight, Waldstein & Appassionata - Classical Music CD for Relaxation, Study & Romantic Evenings

This is a reissue of a 1996 Beethoven program, and I detect that Pletnev has come a ways since -- wit, perversity, and mischeif are absent here. His "Moonlight" Sonata strains to be different, however: it's strenuous and thumping in the first two movements, and strongly attacked in the finale, which Pletnev doesn't play for dazzling fingerwork. I doubt I will return to hear this anti-poetic reading again.Like Richter, Pletnev's effortless technical command allows him to do what he wants in the 'Waldstein'. Hearing how strong and confident he is in the first movement, one is reminded that many others (e.g., Brendel, Kempff) feel as if they are cautiously avoiding stumbles. I wish the slow introduction to the finale were more mysterious and premonitory; Pletnev seems rather objective. Yet the opening of the finale couldn't be more sensitively phrased, and the rest captures Beethoven's triumphant middle-period style as perfectly as anyone since Schnabel and Serkin ever has.My standard for the "Appassionate" comes down to Serkin, Richter, and Pollini. Pletnev is as powerful and self-asssured as any of them, and he shows as much temperament. Don't expect the heavens to open, however. His conception of the first movement, and later the finale, depends on a somewhat tame opening building to a volcanic finish. Pletnev held my attention in one great arc from beginning to end. The second movement is masterful, largely due to Pletnev's original touch and phrasing. Beethoven creates magic from very simple ingreients here, and Pletnev knows how to do that, too. Hapily, he doesn't pound the finale to death or try to persuade us that this is the Flight of the Bumblebee -- a slower tempo allows for mroe eloquence and depth.With a musician as mercurial as Pletnev you can't expect to agree with every new notion he brings to a score, but this Beethoven recital is a showcase for temperament and incredible skill. Too bad that Virgin's close-up sonics are bangy and clangy; the fortissimos cause a bit of ear sting.