As with Sony's recent Serkin reissue (see Sandy's review of The Great Beethoven Sonatas), Beethoven features prominently on DG’s twofer, entitled The Incomparable Rudolf Serkin. He enjoyed a fruitful Indian summer in association with the Yellow Label, recording Mozart piano concertos with Claudio Abbado and the LSO (there’s a spunky K451 included here) as well as a marvellous Brahms disc in partnership with Rostropovich (the new volume includes the E minor sonata). Best of all is a deeply moving live recital of the last three Beethoven sonatas. There are frailties (he was 84 at the time), yet the wisdom and searching intelligence of these interpretations make for an unforgettable experience. ‘Incomparable’ indeed.

Reviewed by Sandy Matheson