Brahms: Piano Sonata & Variations

Mikkola, Laura

AECD 0859

Brahms’s relationship with the piano was, like most other relationships in his life, quite complex, without, for all that, being tumultuous or painful. Running throughout his life, the relationship was initially that of a young composer with symphonic ambitions who, however, only rarely dared venture beyond the reassuring ivory of his keyboard. Later, it was that of a mature artist supremely exploiting his fully mastered musical language in the theme-and-variations¡form. Finally, it was that of an old man confessing his most intimate thoughts in miniatures, the last pianistic murmurs with their highly moving, prophetic tone.As played by Laura Mikkola, the music of Brahms sounds completely authentic, and infinitely poetic. With disarming strength of conviction and naturalness, this young Finnish pianist a prizewinner at several international competitions including the prestigious Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium, succeeds in building her own sound world, an exhilarating universe which she fashions in her own image while at the same time remaining marvelously truthful to the composer’s vision.

CD

Muzyka klasyczna

Aeon

12-04-2010

3760058368596