Customer Reviews

Chopin: The 14 Waltzes

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In a recent conversation with Miss Tomsic, she stated that she has never recorded Chopin's 14 waltzes. The German company which produced this CD is using her great name erroneously. Whoever the artist is, he or she is competent at best, but definitely not Dubravka Tomsic. On a another matter, Miss Tomsic has recorded Chopin's First Concerto and it is available. But, record companies are selling two versions. One is her and the other is not. Both are labeled "Dubravka Tomsic." Feel free to contact me at the Monterey Symphony for additional information. Joseph Truskot, executive director, Monterey Symphony.

Joseph Truskot's review ("Dubravka Tomsic Never Recorded Chopin's 14 Waltzes") seems well-verified. The pianist heard here - little more than competent - is probably Sylvia Capova. Point Classics, a budget label with a generally mediocre catalogue of third-rate performances, has pulled this stunt before. Their Bruckner 9th, attributed to Cesare Cantieri (a pseudonym), was in fact the live 1980 Mravinsky recording published by Melodiya. Apparently, not all Pirates are in the Carribean.

I heard Tomsic in concert some years ago. A Rubinstein pupil, she DID record the Scarlatti disc (and possibly the Brahms) that appear on Point Classics. I don't find her playing in either one all that special - I would certainly prefer listening to Brahms by Rubinstein. Although he had a great reputation in Chopin, I like his Brahms even better.

Tomsic recorded several Beethoven concertos with Anton Nanut - I think #1 and especially #3 were delightful. Perhaps there was a complete set - I would be interested in hearing her #2 and #4.

As for the Chopin Waltzes, I grew up with Rubinstein's 1960's set on RCA LP - it was always interesting to note how different his edition was from my own sheet music. An interesting alternative is Lipatti - I prefer his touching live Bescancon concert performance to the studio account. Hopefully, some day DG will re-issue my favorite set of all: the wonderful recording by Polish pianist Stefan Askenase. His was the most patrician, "in the vein" reading I have ever heard.

This is a CD of the famous 14 waltzes by Chopin. Although played correct technically I found that I did not feel any emotion from pianist. It is missing something, i cannot excactly describe what. It'll like the pianist is playing the music as homework and just has to get it over with.

I had an original old tape version that was destroyed and wanted to replace it. is this cd actually played by Dubravka Tomsic, I don't know, after feeling a bit dry, I discovered that other reviewers questioned whether it was actually played by this famous person (who to be honest I don't know). It;s missing something, but the pieces are played correctly on time, on queue, and in technical fashion.

Dubravka Tomsic is one of the finest pianists alive and is at the height of her form. This recording is not her though, it's someone else. Please purchase the late Brahms' works or the Beethoven piano sonatas. Watch out for the Chopin and Schumann. They may not be her either.

Chopin's "The 14 Waltzes" are collected on this Point Classics disc. Overall, the music on this CD represents a nice mix of sweetness, elegance, energy, melancholy, and gentleness. This is good music to play if you're working at your computer. A highlight: a hyperactive passage in Waltz #4 which sounds like a high-speed chase across the piano keys.

A truly glorious recording, just what I want in music, with brilliancy, sensitivity, and beauty. This is a must have for every music lover worth the name.