For years Vlado Perlemuter’s 1956 Mozart sonata cycle on Vox stood out as one of the more elusive LP rarities among classical collectors. Newly restored from the original master tapes, its first-ever reissue calls for a serious celebration. Not a single moment goes by when Perlemuter and Mozart do not make beautiful music together. The pianist’s gorgeous, full-throated tone embraces a wide dynamic range and always sings seductively, especially when echoed phrases drop down in volume. Consequently, the slow movements are as vibrant, operatic, and eloquently shaded as anyone can imagine. Ornaments may not represent the last word in scholarly rectitude, yet they’re ravishingly timed and articulated: check out the K. 281 Rondeau’s trills from heaven, or the K. 576 Finale’s awesomely yet never rigidly differentiated articulations.
What’s more, Perlemuter is anything but a “one style fits all” interpreter. He employs subtle tempo fluctuations to convincingly characterize the K. 332 first movement’s first and second subjects, then pursues a steady, unswerving course (for the most part) in K. 570’s outer movements. In the D major K. 284 sonata’s long “theme and variations” movement, some listeners may find the pianist’s tapered phrase endings a bit predictable. The “easy” C major K. 545 starts with a measured, chastely sculpted Allegro in contrast to the surprisingly brisk and terse Rondo up ahead.
True, more urgent and intense readings of the A minor K. 310 and C minor K. 457 sonatas can be had (Lipatti and Schnabel in the former, Arrau and Kraus in the latter), yet the depth and sophistication Perlemuter brings to the earlier sonatas represents an ideal fusion of heart and fingers. If you don’t believe me, listen to how the B-flat K. 279 sonata first movement’s opening measures organically expand and contract without dissipating the basic pulse. While the sonic ambience ranges from concert-hall resonance to the intimacy of a small room salon, the pianist sounds equally wonderful at both ends. Who knew that this Mozart cycle would turn out to be the crown jewel in Perlemuter’s discography? [7/11/2008]
