Lithuanian-born pianist Nadia Reisenberg (1904-1983) was a fixture on the New York concert, broadcast, and educational scene from 1939 until her death. Between 1955 and 1958 she recorded three solo Haydn LPs for the Westminster label, reissued here in a two-CD set. The mono sonics need no apology, though the high transients are somewhat dimmed in the digital remastering. As for the playing, Reisenberg is sensational! She brings seasoned mastery, pinpointed fingerwork, singing tone, unerring proportion, and graceful firmness to each one of these ingenuous works. Moreover, she underscores the composer’s metric and harmonic sleights-of-hand with effortless expressive economy, and scales her dynamics to telling effect. Tempos are impeccably judged and prove convincing even when they surprise, as in the rather stately traversal of the E-flat sonata’s opening movement. Excellent, informative booklet notes top off this truly distinctive release.
