Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 17, 18, 21 - Waldstein, & 22, Opp.31/2,3;53;54
The "Waldstein" Sonata, No. 21, and the "Tempest," No. 17, are the most popular works here and Solomon plays them to the hilt, bristling with energy and naturalness. When he molds a phrase or sets a tempo, you feel there's no other way to play it. Contributing to that sense of rightness is his refusal to go over the top, so the opening movement of the "Waldstein" never spills over into overt aggressiveness, and the quicksilver mood shifts of the "Tempest" always seem to come from the music's inner logic, rather than being imposed by a showoff virtuoso. Beethoven set off the drama in the "Tempest" with his next work in the Op. 31 set, Sonata No. 18. Solomon clearly differentiates between the two, giving the latter a kinder, gentler touch. The little, two-movement 22nd Sonata lends itself to virtuosic heroics, and here we get an unbuttoned Solomon, who rips through it with abandon.--Dan Davis