The "
Lost Tapes
" marketing device is doubtless effective, but actually, there are several recordings of
Beethoven
piano sonatas from the end of
Rudolf Serkin
's life. This one was the very last one, and
Serkin
never approved its release. However, as the pianist's daughter
Judith
points out in the notes, he was a perfectionist who rarely was satisfied with his recorded work. She also notes that his career spanned eras from the piano roll to the CD, and there is no question that this is a historic release. It is equally clear that
had lost a step by the time he recorded the
Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ("Waldstein")
, in 1986, and
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F sharp minor, Op. 57 ("Appassionata")
, in 1989. Whether because his skills had declined further or simply because the intense
"Appassionata"
was a taller order, the
"Waldstein"
is the stronger performance here; the finale of the
is labored. What is near miraculous, however, is that even with diminished technical powers, these recordings are full of
's distinctive personality and style. He was among the most reserved of the great German-Austrian pianists of the 20th century, keeping to a strict tempo and unfolding details subtly in the upper layers. The finale of the
has a fascinating interior quality; lacking glittering double-octave runs,
brings the quintessential Beethovenian narrative of adversity overcome to the work. This release is recommended for
fans and lovers of historical recordings generally. ~ James Manheim