The Beethoven-Biss ‘Moonlight’ Approach
BERKELEY—Pianist Jonathan Biss must be winning grateful nods from the composer high above right about now. Biss meticulously adhered to all the score markings in his all-Beethoven recital, avoiding all flimflam, personal touches or effusive messages from the heart in getting down to brass tacks (as this observer verified, with score in lap as it firmly poured out its instructions in black and white). Consider Biss’ playing the “Moonlight” Sonata. Many interpreters will douse it in perfume, draw out the…