Volume 2 of the complete set of recordings of Beethoven’s cello sonatas Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma did in the 80s. The recording won a well deserved Grammy. I’ve been doing some comparisons lately, and this is another interesting one. Ax and Ma did the same cycle in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. How do the two compare?
In 1987 both players were in their 30s, where in 2020 they were established old men. These sonatas are not for the faint of heart, and when they first did the cycle they had to conquer it. The result was hailed for its bright sound, especially compared to the romantic versions from the decade before. In 2020 they allowed themselves to lean back a little, to let the music speak more. You can judge for yourself which you like more.