Ludwig Van Beethoven: Eroica – Scherbakov

   in Piano International (Nov, 2015)
The Eroica Variations and Pathetique Sonata were recorded in Moscow in 1984, the year after Scherbakov’s sensational victory in the inaugural Rachmaninov Competition; the Appassionata in Wales last year. There are some interesting differences in approach: the Pathetique’s Adagio cantabile almost on autopilot, while he is clearly more engaged by the Appassionata’s Andante con moto. There are commonalities, too, not least his dynamic execution of the faster movements. These feel like live performances with a sense of the occasion rather than a definitive statement, and this approach holds vividly in the Eroica Variations. Scherbakov’s wilfulness may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s entertaining, with nicely engineered/re-engineered sound. …