Stephen Kovacevich's performances of Beethoven's Concertos and Sonatas recorded on Philips in the '70s were in their time revered as much for their intellectual lucidity and interpretative transparency as for their recording's absolute translucency. Reissued en masse on six generously filled disc,
Kovacevich's performances are still immensely impressive. With
Colin Davis conducting either the
BBC or
LSO,
Kovacevich's Concertos are clean, pure, and Apollonian.
Kovacevich's Sonatas, especially his late Sonatas, are deep, true, and Elysian.
Kovacevich's Diabelli Variations and his Bagatelles, especially his late bagatelles, are color, light, and deeply human. Philips' piano sound has always been praised for its clarity and luminosity and the sound of
Kovacevich's piano has been reproduced here with complete fidelity and absolute immediacy. Fans of
Kovacevich's superb later recordings of Beethoven's Sonatas will want to hear his earlier and equally superlative recordings. And fans of great recorded sound will want to hear just how well it was done even before digital technology.