Mozart: Complete Piano Sonatas / Alexei Lubimov

Alexei Borisovich Lubimov is a clavier player born in Moscow in 1944. He began his career in the field of contemporary music. Initially, he was mainly involved in introducing contemporary Western music to the music scene of the Soviet Union at the time, but he was targeted by the Soviet authorities and was subject to restrictions on overseas travel and other oppression. During this unfortunate time, he began studying early music. Even now in 2025, he continues to be active with a rebellious spirit, actively introducing music from neighboring Ukraine, which his homeland Russia still continues to invade, despite oppression from the authorities, including threats of bombing concert venues.

The fortepiano he plays has a beautiful sound. Mozart played with the hard tone unique to this instrument is pure and transparent. The sound of a modern piano, due to its structure, can sometimes sound like a dull felt tone, but the pianoforte, struck with leather-covered hammers on wood, has a clearer, more distinct sound, and when you hear it, you can be convinced that this is the sound of the instrument that Mozart had in his head.

About listening to Mozart’s sonatas on a modern piano, I personally feel very nostalgic for Ingrid Haebler for example.The other hand I’m glad that performances on period instruments have become commonplace these days. I really think we live in a good time. #mozart #clavier #pianosonata #片山俊幸