Limelight — May 2017

Instrumental

Beethoven

Diabelli Variations

Ronald Brautigamp

BIS BIS1943 (SACD)

★★★★★

Chopin

Complete Piano Sonatas

Joseph Moogp

ONYX ONYX4152

★★★★✩

There’s nothing synthetic about

this Moog’s approach to Chopin

There’splentytolikeaboutyoung

German pianist Joseph Moog’s

approach to Chopin’s three sonatas.

The works span 27 years – almost

thelengthofChopin’scareer.The

seldom-recordedNo1seesthe

teenage student experimenting

withformandtimesignatures

(witness the unusual 5/4 for the

Allegretto)andisararity.Moog

makesaneloquentcaseforhaving

itheardmoreoften,especiallyin

the superbly restless finale.

Just about every pianist worth

theirsalthasrecordedtheothertwo

works.TheBMinorSecondwas

famously described by Schumann

as four of Chopin’s “maddest

children harnessed together” to

formasonata.Moogtakesthe

famous funeral march extremely

slowly–itclocksinatover10’

(compare Martha A rgerich’s 8’34’’

orIvoPogorelich’sbrisk6’34’’)–but

while other approaches are more

weighty the beautiful nocturne-

like middle section is played with

affectingsimplicity.Thefamous

briefflurryoftripletquaversthat

follows,the“windblowingovermy

grave” as the 19th-century virtuoso

Tausig descr ibed it, is dispatched

with breathtaking panache.

Moogisequallyastutein

the Third Sonata, which many

consider contains some of the

finest Romantic music written for

the instrument. Still only 30, he

isbeingflaggedasoneofthebest

interpreters of his generation.

ThereisalsoisabitoftheStephen

Houghabouthisrecitalsashe

includes forgotten gems from

the “golden age” as well as his

own compositions.SM

It is surprising that the mightyDiabelli
Variationshashadsofewrecordingsona
periodpianosinceArkiv’spioneeringset
byJörgDemusin1978(nowavailableon
Eloquence;aninterestingsetthatincluded
32ofthe50othervariationsofDiabelli’s
anthology). Andreas Staier raised the bar
withhis2012recordingonHarmonia
Mundi:arevelatoryreading,
taking every opportunity to
exploit the varied colours of
hisinstrument,buthisliberal
useofthemoderatorand
Janissary pedals might be too
much for some listeners.
Collectors of Ronald Brautigam’s
superb complete survey of Beethoven’s
keyboard output have been eagerly awaiting his
accountforitsconcludingvolumeandIdoubt
theywillbedisappointed.Heusesyetanother
superb Paul McNulty instrument; this time a
copy of an 1822 Conrad Graf that approximates
thatwhichGrafpresentedtoBeethovenin1826
–withfourstringspernote.Itslovelylimpid
treblepointsforwardtolaterpianosbutretains
thefortepiano’snut-browncolourinmidand
bassregisters–anditsoundsgloriousthanks
tothestateoftheartrecording.
Brautigam allows the beauty of the instrument
to shine, using its particular tonal characteristics
to illuminate chord voicings and rhythmic
details without interrupting the musical flow.

Tempi are fleet but perfectly judged and the

clarity of his articulation is such that one could

writedownthescore–ifyoucouldkeepup!

He coaxes otherworldly sonorities that

enhance the strangeness of Beethoven’s

transmutations – the Var. XXIVFughetta’s

ethereal musing is something special to

treasure.Heshiesawayfromthe

effects pedals, so is more inclined to

letthemusicconveyBeethoven’s

amused toying with Diabelli’s

innocuouslittletune–aknowing

wink and nudge rather than

Staier’s uproarious guffaw.

Carefully controlling the ebb and

flow of the unfolding drama while

keepinganeyeonthedistanthorizon,

Brautigamkeepsaclearheadthroughout.

So many fall at the home straight; the

slightestmistimingandthestructurecanfail–

StaierisjustalittletooruminativeinVar.XXXI

and tension dissipates slightly in theFugue–

butBrautigamperfectlyjudgesthearcsothat

theMinuetisamagicalreleaseandthefinale

windsdowntoapensiveleave-taking.

Thediscconcludeswithaselectionfrom

Beethoven’s money-spinning venture to

arrangefolksongsfortheparlour–merefluff,

but Brautigam’s affectionate care makes for

genial entertainment. This is a satisfying

conclusion to a project of great integrity and a

library essential.Warwick Arnold

BRAUTIGAM’S FINAL FURLONG

The Diabellis are a satisfying conclusion to a superb survey

Clarity of

articulation is such

that one could write

down the score – if

you could keep up

Ronald Brautigam

78 LIMELIGHT MAY 2017 http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au

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