Yundi, sometimes
YUNDI or
Yundi Li, had a hiatus in his career apparently caused by the long reach of the Chinese government, but now he is back with the beginning of a
Mozart project. The album is supposed to be devoted to the composer's Salzburg sonatas, though the
Fantasy in C minor, K. 475, and associated
Piano Sonata in C minor, K. 457, date from well into
Mozart's years in Vienna. All three works run somewhat counter to type in an age where
Mozart performances, partly under the influence of the historical performance movement, tend toward exciting, percussive approaches.
Yundi is quite precise, with little variation in attack or tempo; even the dramatic C minor works don't seem to point to
Beethoven the way they often do. In the big variation set that makes up the first movement of the
Piano Sonata in A minor, K. 331,
Yundi brings out some striking details. Sample the fourth variation, about a minute in, for an example. For many listeners, the Rondo alla Turca finale will be underpowered, but this may be a matter of taste. Sample, listen, and await further installments.
Yundi has lost none of his considerable charisma, and this release made classical best-seller lists in the spring of 2024. ~ James Manheim
