McLachlan plays the 32 Beethoven Sonatas, vol. 1

From the opening of the first sonata on this disc, the Pathétique it is evident that we have here an artist of formidable technique. Every note is precisely placed, and pedalling and phrasing are immaculate. Let me hasten to add that this does not mean that the performance is boring – quite the reverse. There is fire in the Pathétique, sparkle in the humorous G major sonata, op. 14 no 2, and a lovely melodic line in the opening of the F sharp major sonata op. 78. Excellent performances of Op. 81a, Les adieux, and the E major op. 14 no 1 round off a well-filled disc. Well, not quite, as there is a little known Bagatelle WoO 56 thrown in as an encore.

If you like your Beethoven performances to be eccentric or unusual, then these performances are not for you. The tempi are well judged in every case, making these interpretations ones which you will come back to, time and time again. In fact, if the rest of the series comes up to the same standard, it would be high on my personal list of “Desert island discs”.

Murray McLachlan is Head of Keyboard at Chetham’s school of music in Manchester, and the proceeds of the recording are going to the Chetham’s Millgate project.
The recording is clean and well-rounded. The booklet notes by McLachlan and Ian Milnes are interesting. A recording to treasure.

David Rothery, January, 2004.