American pianist Andrew Rangell has a gift for unorthodox readings that are compelling even if you can't quite concur with the steps he takes. In his youth, he would sometimes whistle the optional flute part of the Ives Piano Sonata No. 2 ("Concord"). Since beginning an association with the Steinway & Sons label he has recorded major mainstream repertory items, and here he keeps to his independent watys in traversing Beethoven's late piano music. The set is never dull, and there are many striking moments. Chief among them ...
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American pianist Andrew Rangell has a gift for unorthodox readings that are compelling even if you can't quite concur with the steps he takes. In his youth, he would sometimes whistle the optional flute part of the Ives Piano Sonata No. 2 ("Concord"). Since beginning an association with the Steinway & Sons label he has recorded major mainstream repertory items, and here he keeps to his independent watys in traversing Beethoven's late piano music. The set is never dull, and there are many striking moments. Chief among them are the finale of the mighty Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 ("Hammerklavier"), where he seems on the point of tearing the piano apart. The slow movements are deeply introspective, and the time he takes in the big variation sets, especially the finale of the Piano Sonata in E major, Op. 109, lets the massive trills build slowly and emerge as some unheard-of force of nature. The overall program is strong as well. The Bagatelles, Op. 126, are usually paired with Beethoven's...
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