Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Vol 1

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) Chandos CHAN 10720 (3) (3-CD set)****

French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet tackled Haydn on disc before Beethoven. And now hes taking on Beethovens sonatas in order of publication. So its hardly surprising that his approach is quite classical. He mentions Viennese pianist Friedrich Gulda as an influence, and he certainly has a preoccupation with clarity and shows a dexterity of fingerwork that bring Gulda to mind. The high-spirited virtuosity of the faster movements thrives, and although the slow movements can sound rather reserved, they’re never actually impersonal.

This first volume goes from Op. 2 to Op. 14, and includes an appendix of two rejected movements to allow the recreation of an earlier version of the Sonata in C minor, Op 10 No 1. One of those rejected movements is heard in a reconstruction by William Drabkin, who also provides informative notes. url.ie/f1f2