Beethoven : Sonates pour piano, Vol. 1. Bavouzet.

Piano International (Sep, 2012)
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet is without doubt one of today’s most intelligent and questing pianists. From Massenet to Ohana, from Stockhausen to Haydn, he seems to excel in all he touches. The freshness of his Haydn means that his affinity with early Beethoven should come as no surprise. Yet the mixing of Beethoven and French pianists has not always been a happy one; indeed, with the honourable exceptions of Walter Gieseking and Yves Nat, it is difficult to think of significant names (apologies to Pommier and Pludermacher), never mind trace a lineage.

Bavouzet’s F minor (Op 2 No 1) is most decidedly post-Haydn. He includes both repeats in the first movement. Traits that …