Whereas in past decades Urtext editions with assorted aspirations and readings by various editors were the primary points of departure in addressing Beethoven’s piano sonatas, today it is more often the question of what significance so-called “instructive editions” have in the history of interpretation, what additional benefit is generated from them, and wherein lies their legitimacy

Unlike his teacher Hans von Bülow in his edition of the sonatas, Lamond did not allow any intervention in the...