Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Louis Lortie :: Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas, Opp. 101 & 106

A Beethovenian for our time

Robert L. Berkowitz | Natick, MA United States | 01/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Louis Lortie's performance of these important late Beethoven Sonatas put him in exalted company. These are performances worthy of comparison to many of the great Beethoven performers, including Gilels, Kempf, Brendel, Barenboim and Arrau. I first became impressed with Lortie after listening to his performance of a couple of Mozart concertos through a Musical Heritage Society disc. He plays with such exquisite taste, always demonstrating a respect for the period and the composer. I then heard his Ravel, which I reviewed on Amazon and gave a 5-star rating. Given the breadth of his repertoire, it is not surprising that he would bring such skill and sensitivity to playing Beethoven.His playing is clean, incisive, brilliant, lyrical and always thoughtful. The Chandos sound is first-rate.I highly recommend this recording. I very much look forward to hearing his entire survey of the 32 Sonatas."