Maria Bergmann? Historical recordings from 1961 to 1976 of Haydn Sonatas? I admit I was skeptical when I received this disc for review. After all, where’s the market for SWR archive recordings of Haydn Sonatas played by an unknown pianist? With that mindset, I casually slipped on the disc, more out of professional duty than genuine interest. From the first note to the last I sat transfixed, eating heaping plates of crow and hat, and enjoying how this pianist brought each of these works to vibrant life through her imaginatively sculpted phrasing, pointed trills and embellishments, and instinct for color. What a superb Haydn pianist! Too bad she doesn’t observe the repeats, for the simple reason that I want to hear moments such as the E minor sonata’s aria-like slow movement so eloquently spun out again, or recap the pianist’s witty timing of the A-flat sonata’s final bars.
So who’s this Maria Bergmann anyway? She was born in 1918 and died in 2000 and essentially worked full time as a radio pianist for a single station, the Südwestfunk, starting in 1946. She was called upon to collaborate and accompany scores of singers and instrumentalists, fill in gaps between spoken programs, and record the occasional solo recital. According to the booklet notes, SWR’s database shows more than 2700 hits when Maria Bergmann’s name is entered. Clearly the job kept her busy. While the recordings span 15 years, the fine sonics are remarkably consistent. Let’s hope future Bergmann releases prove equally attractive.
