Beethoven: Piano Sonata in B flat major ‘Hammerklavier’, Op 106

Angela Hewitt gives us the final album in her complete cycle of the Beethoven Sonatas, presenting us with fresh interpretations of the monumental “Hammerklavier” Sonata Op. 106, and the last Sonata, Op. 111.

‘Heaven, pure and simple. The second movement’s opening Arietta bore a closer resemblance to the great Artur Schnabel’s 1932 recording than any other I know of: its breadth and profundity of utterance, the perfect weighting of its chords and the rests between those chords, and a comprehensive understanding of the music’s harmonic architecture, all helped nudge old interpretative values into a new context, ‘old school for a new age’ you might say … I would suggest you wrap up any preconceptions you might have about the interpretation of this music, dig a very big hole and bury them. Here’s your chance to listen with fresh ears … Hewitt’s accessibly analytical notes add a further degree of pleasure to the listening experience and the Fazioli piano used rings resplendent thanks to a superb recording. If this disc isn’t shortlisted for prizes in 2022 I’ll be very surprised’ (robccowan.com)