Search - Henryk Szeryng :: Beethoven: "Spring" Sonata, "Kreutzer" Sonata

Great music is open to many interpretations, and great players can put their own stamp on even the best-known pieces. Ingrid Haebler is a fine pianist whose tone, unfortunately, sometimes comes out harsh and loud on this record, but Henryk Szeryng, always renowned for the ease and brilliance of his technique, the silken purity of his tone, and the aristocratic nobility of his style, sounds wonderful. The duo's phrases have shape, elegance, and a spoken quality; their liberties are subtle, poised, and perfectly balanced; their changes of mood and character have a feeling of inevitability. They give emotional meaning and significance to every expressive and dynamic nuance; making every note count, they pay meticulous attention to details without losing sight of the whole. These are performances not only to enjoy and admire, but to learn from, even though not everybody will agree with all the interpretive choices. The first movement of the "Spring" is unusually fast, extroverted, perhaps a bit aggressive, while the fast movements of the "Kreutzer" are unusually broad, held, almost stodgy, but full of high drama; there is plenty of time to bring out significant details. In No. 2, the fast movements are crisp, sprightly, charming, rhythmically pointed, but leisurely, the runs perfect and crystal clear. The slow movements are all beautiful, flowing, expressive; each of the variations in the "Kreutzer" has its own character. Szeryng's tone shimmers and soars ecstatically. --Edith Eisler