BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No. 3, Opus 5;...

BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No. 3, Opus 5; Three Intermezzos, Opus 117. Emanuel Ax, piano. Sony Classical SK 45933. Ax plays the dreamy Opus 117 Intermezzos in an almost businesslike manner; he’s plain-spoken rather than plaintive, prosaic not poetic. Of course, this approach has certain strengths, and Ax is too accomplished a player not to capture many moments of beauty. Similarly, in the Sonata, Ax avoids bravura, opting instead for a closely argued and controlled reading, technically spotless. The trouble is that he misses much of its drama, passion and youthful showmanship.