Customer Reviews

Chopin, Volume 1

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Evgeny Kissin first made his mark on the world by performing both Chopin piano concertos in one sitting...at the tender age of 12. Though he says that Bach is his favourite composer, I would say from listening to his performances that he has the best understanding of Chopin. To me, all of Kissin's Chopin performances are definitive. As a pianist, his recording are the ones I find most useful in shaping my own interpretation of pieces - because they are so beautiful. Chopin's performance on this CD, recorded live at Carnegie Hall, is astounding.

He commences with a tremendous work, the Fantasy in F minor (a piece I have performed publicly as well). His performance is amazing. The subtle dynamics and virtuosic technique create a lovely interpretation.

Next is a set of 3 Waltzes. Though I feel Kissin's interpretation of the A flat major Grand Waltz Brilliante (op. 34) could be slowed down a hair, it is unquestionably rousing, and his performances of the other two waltzes are fabulous, particularly Grand Waltz (not brilliante) in A flat major.

The Polonaise in F sharp is a fantastically difficult piece. When I first bought this recording and heard this performance, all I could say was wow. I brought it to my piano instructor, because at the time I was studying the piece, and all he could say was, "That's beautiful." It is by far the best performance of this piece that I have ever heard. It is the only performance of this piece in which I have ever felt a more beautiful voice emerge.

Following the polonaise, Kissin chose to perform 3 nocturnes. Chopin's nocturnes are known for their soaring voices, and Kissin chose 3 of the best known, particularly the 2 from Op. 27, which are considered the best. His performances here are equally exemplarly, and it is to his credit that despite the fact that he concludes with a nocturne marked Largo (forgive me if it is addagio... I haven't looked at the D flat nocturne in some time) he still gets thunderous applause.

Finally Kissin chose to conclude with Chopin's Scherzo #2 in B flat. Scherzo #2 is not all that musically significant, but, it does have a really catchy melody. In the hands of a virtuoso, it's triplets will always delight the crowd. I've heard this piece performed both live and in recordings by several greats, among them Argerich, Rubenestein, and Ashkenazy. None of them create such a, dare I say, catchy piece out of one of Chopin's works. I walk away from listening to this performance invariably humming the main theme...and judging from the crowds response, who could not wait till the last note rang out to stand on their feet and shout "Bravo!" this performance will do the same to almost anyone.

I fervently recommend this recital recording to anyone who loves Chopin, even if they have every piece on this CD already well recorded. Each piece played is played fantastically well. I can not express more how wonderful this CD is. It is a must buy.

This is definitely one of the best Chopin recordings of Fantasy and Scherzo no.2. Kissin is at his best when he performs in front of a LIVE audience, and this CD proves it. I've listened to many versions of Chopin's Fantasy and Scherzo no.2, but none have even come close to Kissin's version of these masterpieces. He attacks both Chopin pieces with such authority and confidence that makes one feel like you're at his live Carnegie Hall recital. This is a fantastic CD. Get it now.

Two months ago, I had never heard of Kissin. Then I bought, in the Netherlands, a special 2 CD "Chopin collection" by Kissin; I see that these two CD's are in fact Chopin vols. 1 and 2 shown on this site. I got tears in my eyes when I listened. Of vol. 1, I have, until now, listened most often to the Valse Brillante (track 4); everytime it leaves me breathless. Absolutely fantastic! Also the vol. 2 is GREAT. As these are live recordings, coughing and other background noise is sometimes audible; on the other hand, the live atmosphere adds to the joy. The recording is good, as is the transparent sound of the Steinway.

Its truly amazing to think that someone so young has gone through so many separate musical phases, but Kissin certainly has. This recording (along with the Carnegie Debut, and Chopin Vol. 2) represents music from his 1st 'golden era' of playing.

A few years after these performances, Genya starting to face a slew of biting criticism for his performances. Many stated that he delighted in sheer virtuosity, and left his musicality out to lunch. Luckily, there is absolutely no evidence of these faults in this recording.

It is very rare that you will hear someone perform with such a complete understanding of pace, rubato, and most importantly, tone. Listen to the C# Minor Nocturne with that in mind. The impact of his performance sends chills through every nreve ending in your body. While later recordings have the impression of being slightly cold (The Schumann Fantasy for example) it was during his pioneering New York years that only warmth exudes from his playing.

Fortuantely for us all, it seems that the golden Genya has returned again. I was fortunate enough to attend a Chopin recital in London that marked his return. If there is any pianist I would tell EVERYONE to hear, it would be Genya. The weight of his tone can reach the deepest crevices of your soul. We can only hope that his 'virtuosic experimentation' phase has ended and his golden sound will forever remain.

This is for sure the most impressing CD I have so far listened about Chopin at all! Actually it's simply the best piece of music I have listened ever.
The initial Fantasia Op.49 it's simply great and Kissin shows all his wonderful talent(I saw him in life concert in London at Royal Hall and I was deeply admired of his genius).The Nocturnes are really touchy and incredibly smoothly played. The Great Walzer are also played with extreme sensibility that I was almost moved by them. But in my opinion the best piece of music I have ever listened about composition and performance is The Polonaise Op.44. In fact it had so deeply touched me when I listend at it the first time, that I will always remember the atmosphere created from this music in a small room of a Residence in London with 2 Japanise friends of mine drinking wine and eating chease....while this music was plaing at candel-light...was impressing the feeling created by this music! You will listen at the end of this performance a large clapping hands from the audience (the CD is life recorded at Carnegie Hall in New York). You want a suggestion from me? Buy this CD and you will have forever a piano masterpiece with you for all the best moment of your life. I really mean it.
Bye from Italy.
Your faithfull Luca (greetings to all my friends around the world)

I thought Rubenstein was the gold standard for Chopin. However, after listening to this CD I must confess that I have *never* heard better versions of the Nocturnes (A & C) or the Fantasy. Evgeny Kissin is definitely at his best here.
I am at a loss for words to express how beautifully the music has been rendered. The sound quality is very good. Superb. Absolutely a must have CD.

I am someone who has listened to much of Chopin's music. But in my honest opinion, you will not find Chopin music played with such spirit, power, and showmanship as demonstrated by Kissin on this CD. It is truly one of a kind.

This CD is so commanding in its musicality that one can hardly imagine being able to sit still for the live recital itself, given in Carnegie Hall in Feb. 1993. Kissin had already made the debut of a lifetime, also recorded by RCA, but this Chopin recital and its compansion from the same event exhibit a towering mastery. The famous showpieces--the F minor Fantasy, Grande Valse Brillante, F-sharp minor Polonaise, Scherzo #2--eclipse all rivals unless you go back to Rachmaninov, and the audience knew it. Their applause is a roar of ecstatic approval.

Yet behind the shattering virtuosity works a sensitive musical mind, and so it's sad to think that 13 years later, Kissin seems to have coarsened that imaginaiton by relying too much on his bravura technique.

I'm 61 and have been listening to records (78s and 33 1/3s), cassettes and CDs for decades. I have never heard anyone play Chopin better than Mr Kissin. His tone and clarity for art's sake are remarkable. Pollini gets an honourable mention.

I think this is a very mature recording of some of my favorite Chopin pieces. The Scherzo in particular, a piece I play, is fantastically done and a definite improvement over the four Ballades. He has a great ability to handle the incredibly difficult passages in the Scherzo. I would definitely recommend this recording as one of the best.