Chopin: Sonata No. 3, Etudes, op. 25

Nelson Freire, the grizzled gent who here makes his Decca debut at the ripe old age of 58, may indeed be elusive, but the biographical facts speak for themselves. Born in the Brazilian city of Boa Esperanca, Freire had huge early success, winning both the Vianna da Motta Prize and the Dinu Lipatti Medal when he was 20. For many years Martha Argerich's favorite four-hand partner, he has always won plaudits for his Chopin, and this inspiring disc shows why. The majestic Third Sonata seems governed from the start by an improvisatory impulse, but there's nothing showy about the playing. His touch is light, tender, and responsive to every hint in the score. In the second movement, he evinces rare delicacy and precision, and in the third, a thrillingly warm legato: he refuses to indulge in histrionics, which allows the genuine drama of the final movement to surge out more strongly. The Etudes offer a string of surprises, each emerging in an entirely fresh guise. No. 2 is more perfumed than usual, and No. 3 more expansive; the giant left-hand leaps of No. 4 are tossed off with nonchalant ease; the three "finales" are as astonishing as anyone could wish. Rounding things out with the three posthumous etudes, Freire also reminds us how velvety and muted his touch can be. There's an old-fashioned excellence about this pianism, which we need more of these days. --Michael Church