Maria Yudina was an eccentric among the Soviet pianists who came of age in the Stalin era. She’d sprinkle her recitals with poetry readings, or offer remarks about her religious beliefs in between musical selections. Here, however, her pianism speaks for itself. Urtext fanciers will raise an eyebrow or two at Yudina’s lapses from Beethoven’s dynamics, phrasings, and, at times, the notes themselves. Her enthusiasm often spills over into pounding, but an individual presence clearly is at work. The strident Russian engineering, however, is a liability, revealing jarring ambient shifts during the “Goldbergs”. Yudina’s unvarnished phrasing and casual attitude toward ornaments and accentuation do not prove terribly enlivening, and even come off as downright gauche. Philips, however, offers the best transfers these performances have had, be it on LP or CD. Somehow this fascinating pianist always holds your attention, but only in small doses.
