Colorized Hindemith
philvscott | Marrickville, New South Wales Australia | 10/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Berezovsky "colorizes" Hindemith's dry counterpoint in this beguiling recording of Ludus Tonalis. The architecture takes care of itself, but this music should not be deprived of the resources a great player can bring to it. There are other fine performances, but to my mind Richter is too monumental. Olli Mustonen in a deleted Decca recording subjects the work to his usual microscopic deconstruction- which is quite OK, and more suitable for Hindemith than some other composers in this pianist's repertoire- but Berezovsky is something else again. The people who object to Berezovsky's performance seem to think there is something wrong with enjoying such a serious-minded piece. For me it's a revelation. This is the warm Hindemith of Mathis der Maler.
The coupling is played brilliantly too, and the sound is excellent. A wonderful release."