"...From time to time one is reminded of an artist who is sometimes taken for granted such is his musical achievement over the years. New artists appear showing great promise but, when a long established performer makes a new recording of great authority and musicianship, one is jolted into recognising again the stature of such an artist.

Such is the case with a new recording for Sony Classical  www.sonymasterworks.com  by Emanuel Ax http://emanuelax.com. Here Ax has recorded Beethoven’s Variations and Fugue for piano in E flat major Op.35, Haydn’s Variations in F minor Hob.XVII:6 (Andante con variazioni) and Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes Op.13. Emanuel Ax has said that ‘we’re so centered on the sonata style. What’s nice sometimes is to look at other ways to deal with structure, other ways to deal with expression’ and indeed he does so, brilliantly [...] From the opening chord, Emanuel Ax shows that he is his own man, giving a gently thoughtful yet spontaneous presentation of the theme, before the full allegretto vivace, Eroica (or rather Prometheus) theme. There are so many lovely features in this performance, such as the lovely rolling first variation played with a nonchalant air, yet with such fine pianism, superb fluency in variation two, lovely touches in the fleeting fourth variation, an improvisatory fifth that could easily be Beethoven trying out his ideas. There is imagination and mastery throughout variation seven; a lovely expansive eighth variation has all the poetry and feeling that you could want..."

The Classical Reviewer

"...Ax's playing is always marvellously articulate and totally unfussy. Nothing is done for effect or to draw attention to the player rather than to what he is playing; though his range of touch and keyboard colour is consummately wide, it is never used cosmetically [...] There's no mistaking the scale of this music or the way it engages every aspect of Ax's musical intelligence.

He presents the Beethoven as public statement, but Ax is equally capable of judging the perfect, intimate scale for Haydn's F minor Variations. His performance savours all of the work's harmonic subtleties, major-minor contrasts and excursions to remote keys. He manages to honour the work's 18th-century classical background as well as bringing out its uncanny anticipations of later composers, before launching into the Schumann with infectious gusto [...] It's such a warm-hearted performance that you hardly notice the keenly analytical musical mind that's directing it so unswervingly..."

Andrew Clements, The Guardian

"...Bearing the deceptively simple umbrella title Variations, this CD embraces some of the richest and most original music ever composed for piano. Moreover, it is played by a pianist who understands every nook and cranny of its ingenious workings and has at his fingertips not only the formidable technical equipment needed to play all three of the works but also the sensibility to animate their expressive potential. Emanuel Ax performs superlatively here in a way that ignites the virtuosity that Haydn, Beethoven and Schumann all call into play but with a command of colour, variety of touch and strength of interpretative ideas that are allied to his infallible sense of how the music breathes [...] Ax’s manner is beautifully poised. He exaggerates nothing but allows the music to speak its own message and assert its own personality as only the most perceptive of pianists can. On either side of the Haydn, the Beethoven and Schumann are given performances that combine power and playfulness, clarity, cohesion and character of a consistently compelling order. This is playing by a true master of his art..." Geoffrey Norris, The Telegraph (5*)

'...Beautiful sound and playing as well as superior musicianship-the reliable Ax mix....' BBC Music Magazine

'..an avuncular veteran who could never be accused of reticence or wispiness. There were moments in the slow movement when we could have done with more of both. Yet elsewhere Ax was magisterial. I loved the epic sweep to his interpretation, but also the touches of rubato, and the bell-like sonorities he drew from the Steinway’s upper register.

Best of all, however, was his visible sense of enjoyment: enjoyment not only of Beethoven’s music, but also of his colleagues’ contributions. So many pianists today appear cocooned in gloomy self-absorption. To find one who actually seems delighted to tinkle the old ivories — especially after so many decades in the job — is a real bonus..”

The Times