It takes a lot of guts to play Beethoven's five late piano sonatas. They're harder to play, harder to handle, harder to interpret, and harder simply to get through than all but the very most difficult of his earlier sonatas. Pianist
Blanca Uribe has already shown that she has guts by previously recording two of Beethoven's late sonatas and with this recording of the other three, she shows that she has the strength and stamina to do it again. But while one can only admire her guts, one can only regret that she's not quite up to the challenge. She's nearly got the technique, but the faster passages slip through her fingers. She's nearly got the control, but some of the knottier passages run away from her. She's nearly got the interpretations, but some of the more gnomic passages are beyond her. Nevertheless,
Uribe definitely has the soul and that makes it all worth it because while there are plenty of passages that make one wince, there are just as many passages that make one smile or sigh or even shed a tear over the luminous beauty of the music. And any player who can find and express these qualities in Beethoven's late piano sonatas is well worth the effort. MRS Classics' sound is a bit too distant and a little too muffled.