Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Solomon Cutner :: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 1, 3, & 32

The great English pianist Solomon Cutner (who used only "Solomon" as his stage name) was a supreme virtuoso who always subordinated his superlative pianism to the composer's intentions. Unlike so many of today's "objective" interpreters, textual fidelity never meant impersonal or cold interpretations. That's largely due to his stylistic mastery and an ability he shares with very few--the sense of "rightness" in every aspect of his playing. A tragic stroke in 1956 cut his career short in the midst of recording a complete Beethoven Sonata cycle for EMI. Eighteen of the 32 were taped, and they were treasured staples of the LP era. Now Testament has issued them on CD in exemplary transfers. This CD couples two early sonatas with the last of the series. Solomon keeps the early sonatas within a classic-period framework, never exaggerating the dynamic contrasts. The great C minor sonata gets a broader reading, remarkable for the way Solomon sustains the Adagio, as well as for the clarity of the big finale. This series is a must-have for all admirers of Beethoven. --Dan Davis