Frédéric CHOPIN, Piano Sonata No. 3 op. 58 (1844), Yundi Li [AT], DG 2023. Grade: B+
Like a shot of premium vodka, Yundi Li’s take on Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 3 is straightforward and potent, yet leaves a lingering aftertaste of complexity. The sonata’s four movements are played with a surgical precision that could make a Swiss watchmaker green with envy. But for all the technical dexterity on display, Li’s performance lacks the emotional heft that makes the Polish maestro’s work truly resonate – it’s as if he’s serving up caviar on a paper plate.
The Andante, in particular, comes across as stiffer than a starched collar at a Victorian dinner party, missing out on the underlying currents of melancholy and yearning that make Chopin’s compositions the Kleenex-tuggers they are. It’s like watching the Mona Lisa through a fogged-up window – you can appreciate the beauty, but it’s all a bit distant and hazy. Still, for those who enjoy their Chopin with a side of cool detachment, this might just be the recital of your (very well-ordered, slightly chilly) dreams.
