Todd A
pfm Member
While working through a massive collection of an LvB sonata, why not simultaneously work through a smaller collection of a work by Schubert? No reason to go too big and heavy yet with a “late” sonata – though with the great Arcadi Volodos releasing a new D959 shortly, it may make sense to do so in due time – so I went sorta small. Well, not really. I sort of randomly settled on the Wanderer Fantasie, just because. Since I've got only about three dozen recordings, this should be quick.
I decided to start with a heavy-hitter: Maurizio Pollini, from his 70s heyday. In the Allegro con fuoco opener one hears Pollini's command, with super clean fingerwork, extra-wide ranging dynamics - including some really rather effective pianissimo to go along with the hard, almost steely fortissimo - and an unstoppable forward momentum. It's quite pianistic and large scale in conception, and it's not until the Adagio that one gets a bit more of a sense of something else. Pollini's control and coolness is impressive, and he plays the variations with some distinction, though they remain cool. Throughout the Presto and concluding Allegro, the high energy coolness dominates, along with a brightness to the piano sound. A mighty fine recording.
I decided to start with a heavy-hitter: Maurizio Pollini, from his 70s heyday. In the Allegro con fuoco opener one hears Pollini's command, with super clean fingerwork, extra-wide ranging dynamics - including some really rather effective pianissimo to go along with the hard, almost steely fortissimo - and an unstoppable forward momentum. It's quite pianistic and large scale in conception, and it's not until the Adagio that one gets a bit more of a sense of something else. Pollini's control and coolness is impressive, and he plays the variations with some distinction, though they remain cool. Throughout the Presto and concluding Allegro, the high energy coolness dominates, along with a brightness to the piano sound. A mighty fine recording.