Songs Without Words

By TERRY TEACHOUT

America's poet of the piano plays 15 of Mendelssohn's Lieder ohne Worte (literally, Songs Without Words), plus eight Bach-Busoni and Schubert-Liszt transcriptions. The hand injury that threatened to sideline Perahia only a few short years ago is now nothing but a fast-fading memory: the poise and lyricism of the exquisite playing heard on this meltingly beautiful CD are worthy of comparison with any of the century's greatest pianists. His tone is warm and inviting, his interpretations quietly romantic. Vladimir Horowitz--who once gave Perahia a few pointers--would have reveled in the results.

--T.T.