Review of Hammerklavier Live by Donald Isler

Donald Isler

 CD Mini-Review

Isler's Insights

George Frederick Handel: Third Suite for Piano in D Minor

Anders Eliasson: Carosello (Disegno No. 3 For Piano - 2003)

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, Op. 106 - "Hammerklavier"

Beth Levin, Pianist

Adila Records - ARCD 011

Beth Levin is an terrific pianist, and a dedicated artist who does not shy away from big projects. She has recorded the Goldberg Variations of Bach, and the Diabelli Variations and last three sonatas of Beethoven, all live in concert. This time she performs (also live in concert) Beethoven's mighty Hammerklavier Sonata, the D Minor Suite of Handel, and Carosello, by Anders Eliasson. I had heard her play the Handel and Beethoven works at a concert the year before she recorded this CD, but the Eliasson work was new to me.

Anders Eliasson (1947-2013) was an important Swedish composer with his own style and sensibility. There are lots of dissonances in Carosello but the work doesn't FEEL dissonant, as everything is heard as expressive material. There are interesting rhythmic and melodic motives, varying levels of intensity, some beautiful shadings, and several pianistic flourishes.

Although I'm always happy to hear keyboard works of Bach, we should also get to know the Handel keyboard works better! Ms. Levin plays the Handel Suite in a big, pianistic manner. Her articulation is so good it sometimes "tickles!" I particularly enjoyed the Allemande, which was perfumed and charming, and the Air With Variations, which could be an impressive, if short, stand alone piece, employing a great variety of tempi, and dynamics.

There are different ways to play the huge Hammerklavier Sonata. If you want to hear terrific speed in the first, frighteningly difficult movement, you've come to the wrong place. But if you appreciate the considerably slower but monumental approach favored by conductor Otto Klemperer, which unearthed and revealed every detail in the composer's blueprint of the score, you'll like this interpretation. The second movement scherzo moves somewhat faster, and one hears its gruffness, and unusual rhythmic irregularities.

The last two movements are very impressive, indeed! It is a real accomplishment to hold together the long slow movement, but Ms. Levin succeeds. She starts slowly but never loses the momentum. She knows where to push forward, and also when to pull back a bit, heightening the suspense, as she does at the beginning of the coda section. The last movement fugue is played at a moderately fast tempo, but the clarity can be dazzling! In fact, to comprehend everything she's doing in the latter part of the Fugue, the listener needs to mentally multi-task!

The piano sound on this recording is excellent.

This is a CD worth hearing!

Donald Isler