I bought as much of this new series of Sonatas as I could get hold of after listening short excerpts. Mr Schiff provides a wonderful, new and fresh interpretation of these great works, and impresses with his great technical ability, but also truly sensitive playing. Unfortunately, he tends to spoil some of the wonder by literally hammering out his fortissimo passages in a way that might even surprise and upset those of us who value interpretation that is true to the presumed style of playing prevalent during Beethoven's lifetime.
Playing is (as mentioned by another reviewer) sometimes unexpectedly sluggish. The thing that clearly stands out is his playing of the slower movements which is crisp, but gentle with wonderful consideration of melodic lines.
But this collection of discs will probably do for the Beethoven Piano Sonatas what Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lambert Orkis did for the Beethoven Violin sonatas with their recent recordings: providing a new sound and fresh interpretations to some of the most wonderful music ever composed.
