Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Jonathan Biss :: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 8 'Pathétique', 15 'Pastoral', 27 & 30

A thrilling young artist who has mastered Beethoven

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's taken only the briefest exposure on disc for Jonathan Biss to skyrocket to prominence among serious music lovers. He's not a box-office draw among the general public like Lang Lang and Yundi Li, but Biss's musicianship excels both -- he's a deep-dyed artist in the mold of Serkin and Pollini. Like them, he's able to search into Beethoven and bring freshness and insight into the most familiar scores. I think Biss even has a chance at becoming the American Pollini given his precision combined with spontaneous excitement and authority -- time will tell.



Here Biss brings together four sonatas at varying degrees of familiarity, ranging from the "Pathetique" op. 13, whose famous slow movement he plays with natural sensitivity (even at a fastish tempo he brings tears to the eyes) to the infrequently recorded sontata #27, Op. 90. In between we get the lovely "Pastorale" Sonata, Op. 28 and the most musically challenging selection, Op. 109.



In all these works the same quality of unforced musicianship, totally free of gimmicks or posturing, marks Biss as the real thing. Among young pianists recording Beethoven, his closest comparison is Paul Lewis, a muore chaste interpreter and pupil of Brendel's. It will be interesting to see how both grow, but for the moment Biss has more ideas and also more technique. It's remarkable how easily he encompasses any difficulty the composer brings. In sum, this is a rare recital and a total joy."

Biss is really good at Beethoven.

P. Dave | Columbus, OH | 09/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think Biss delivers a truly wonderful account of the Pathetique and Pastoral sonatas. I have to agree fully with Sante Fe listener.



The sound of the piano is rich but mellow. There is no harshness or clanginess (which some people use in describing Pollini's piano sound). Unlike Biss's account of the Appassionata (also on EMI) which was closely miked there is greater spacing on this CD. Don't get me wrong, I think the close miking really adds to the impact of the Appassionata on his debut EMI CD.



But the more mellow, subdued sound on this CD is befitting for the Pastorale sonata.



I found the pacing of the slow movement of the Pathetique to be a bit on the fast side. But, when taken in context with the outer movements it flows with the overall feel of the sonata.



I greatly appreciate Biss as a pianist. I truly hope he records more of Beethoven's sonatas."