None of the masterful late sets of Bagatelles appear in this collection of odds and ends. These are mostly early works and “chips” from the master’s work bench, but for most listeners the single most important fact about this disc is that it contains “Für Elise,” possibly the most famous and immediately recognizable piano piece ever written, and a work so utterly devoid of musical ambition that its current ubiquity would have driven Beethoven even crazier than he was. No matter. Jandó plays the piece perfectly, and it’s really surprising how hard it is to find a recording of this work outside tacky compilations of “piano favorites.” The charming assortment of dances and Bagatelles on this disc puts the more famous work into a fine musical perspective, and the budget price means that listeners looking for “Für Elise” alone won’t have to spend a penny more than necessary.
