Beethoven: Piano Sonatas

Murray Perahia had been preparing a new edition of the Beethoven sonatas for a few years preceding this release. So he couldn’t be better placed to return to the recording studio with a couple of the most famous ones. His “Moonlight” Sonata is glorious: His touch is masterly and his tone is luminous, with supreme evocation of both the gentle melancholy and the finale’s turmoil. His engagement with the altogether more epic and physically demanding “Hammerklavier” is equally impressive. Perahia’s control of his instrument ensures that every note is perfectly placed, whether proclaiming from the mountaintops or just dreaming. A truly magnificent recording.