Sibelius may not have written the flashiest piano music of his time, yet the stark beauty of his mature harmonic language and instinct for effective keyboard deployment (which certainly developed as he progressed) characterize each and every work on this disc. As with previous volumes in this series, pianist Håvard Gimse imbues these pieces with all the color, dynamic range, technical control, insight, and tender loving care he can muster, and there’s much to savor despite this collection’s anonymous-sounding titles.
In particular, the collections of Op. 75 and 85, subtitled “The Trees” and “The Flowers”, are appealingly nature-inspired, and Gimse wrings every drop of poetry from their often unassuming outward appearance. And that’s saying a lot, since Gimse is one of the most cultivated, musicianly pianists on the scene. Top class sonics and fine annotations further enhance my recommendation. If you’ve been collecting Naxos’ Sibelius piano music cycle, you’ll want this disc as a matter of course.
