Overview
Schubert & Brahms
What distinguishes Gabriel Chodos' playing from other pianists is the way everything he plays comes out so thoughtfully phrased and with a beautiful, rounded tone, yet also with a liveliness and motion. The large opening movement of Schubert's "Sonata in G major, D. 894," is a meditative work, but in its more active moments, Chodos gives the singing melodies a gentle swinging motion. The remainder of the sonata is similary delivered, always carefully and sensitively shaped with grace. Even stern, forceful passages, full of large chords, are held in precise proportion to contrasting material, so that the flow of the music is not disrupted by harsh, pounding theatrics. The Brahms pieces are more dramatic than the Schubert, but Chodos is still well in control of the overall contours of each one. Chodos applies to each his warm, contemplative manner and his controlled yet natural-sounding sense of momentum to make them especially attractive. The recording picks up his superb tone and color excellently.
