“Three B's,” by Jay Nordlinger

“Three B's,” by Jay Nordlinger

In the latest episode of Music for a While, I pay tribute to some people recently departed—including Alfred Brendel, the pianist. “He played just about everything,” I say, “but he was especially prized, I think, in Mozart, Schubert, and Liszt.” I proceed to play recordings by him of music by all three composers. I could have said Beethoven too—probably should have. Brendel recorded the complete Beethoven sonatas three times, for heaven’s sake. (…