Aldo Ciccolini was one of the supreme pianists of recent times. A master of a wide swath of music, from Albéniz and Granados, to Debussy, Satie, Liszt, Schumann, Chopin, Beethoven, etc. His huge discography of over 100 recordings is one of the largest. And throughout everything he played, there was the purity of his intention, his unfailing technique, his rectitude without being constrained. In this recording, you can hear his wonderfully chosen dynamics and tempi, the clarity of his voicing and the fidelity to the music. The adagio just takes my breath away and the demanding Fugue is paced to perfection.
Priceless video. I’ve often wondered what Beethoven is trying to convey at 11:02 with this repeated note. This passage reminds me of the sonata No 17 (“Tempest”) in the first movement where Beethoven creates a similar recitatif. Perhaps he’s trying to create a sustained feeling as with the voice to overcome the tone fading effect of the piano.
