Imogen Cooper inhabits these three Sonatas that are distinguished by hallowed Opus Numbers, delving deeply into each work with naturalness and wisdom: everything belongs, within each movement and together in each Sonata, be it sublime utterance (the opening of 109’s Gesangvoll final movement, and when the Theme returns, following Variations, are but two examples), or, contrastingly, the muscularity of that Sonata’s second movement, the pulsating and reflection of 111’s first movement, the spontaneity yet fulfillment of 110, and, while travelling to Journey’s End, the variety of 111’s ‘Arietta’ commentaries and the way the music distils to the simplest yet profoundest of finishes, complemented here by a couple of minutes of Bartók. Cooper’s beautiful playing avoids narcissism while sporting a wide dynamic range and numerous touches that are entirely at the service of the music, superbly recorded. Chandos CHAN 20362.
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020362
Sadly, the video of Dame Imogen’s recent Schubert Impromptus at Wigmore Hall has been made private…
… even here, whereas it deserves the widest crculation.
https://www.imogen-cooper.com/performances