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CD Feature/ Beethoven Classics

  Tobias

Is it about the piece or the performer? It’s one of the eternally unanswered questions, probably because it’s not simply about both, but about something different altogether. It is remarkable, though, that even a label like Naxos, that has made a name for itself by proclaiming the end of the artist culture, has come as far as to fill its CD covers with faces and names. So, in a way, this series of Classic Recordings is definitely a step back.

That is to say, that you will find soloists on the recording, even the “Moonlight Sonata” – but not a word about who plays them. On the other hand, this bizarre fact points to a real strength of this edition. While other conductors may have taken more risks, other pianists have taken more time for the heavenly moving Adagio from the “Emperor” Concerto and while other orchestras may have chosen a more differentiated sound, these discs (5.1. plus the Stereo Mix) serve as a platform from which to explore the piece further, almost as if they were abstaining from an opinion. The result is anything but clinical and instead full of hints and inspiration, giving the listener space for an own interpretation.

In a world which mostly chooses either between the shallow or the complicated, that is a noteworthy middle ground and a great alternative. Forget about the somewhat predictable cover pictures, forget about complex debates about pieces and performers. Taking a step back can sometimes be truly easing.

By tocafi