Search - Beethoven, Seth Carlin :: Piano Sonatas, Opus 53 & 28

Beethoven wrote some pianistic effects into the Waldstein Sonata, for example the long pedallings and octave glissandos in the finale, that come off much better on the antique piano than the modern one. So the opportunity to hear this music played on an 1810 Walter fortepiano seems very attractive--until you hear the performance. Carlin plays erratically, with many inappropriate tempo adjustments. This includes the octave glissandos, which he plays detached- -not glissando--by slowing down to half tempo. By the time I finished hearing the many interpretive gaucheries on this disc, the instrument itself had become the only element of interest left, and it's not enough. --Leslie Gerber