Customer Reviews

Chopin Complete Edition 8: Waltzes & Chamber Music

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Though Luisada is by no means old, his playing takes us back to another age.
Arthur Rubinstein boasted that he changed the way Chopin was perceived, making him more masculine and straightforward than romantic players like de Pachmann and Paderewski did. Rubinstein's Chopin was in fact a reflection of his own more literal time -- a time that also produced Backhaus and Toscanini -- as well as of Rubinstein's own love for the classicism of Brahms which, under the influence of Joachim, pre-dated the Polish expatriate's love for Chopin.
Rubinstein clearly felt uncomfortable with the feminine, salon qualities that cannot be divorced from Chopin's sensibility. Descriptions of the composer's own playing make it clear that he was improvisatory, ethereal in his dynamics and that he reveled in rubato; Chopin was even accused of not being able to play in time. These qualities are rarely evident in modern players, who imagine they present a "greater" Chopin by robbing him of his true personality.
Luisada is not a modern player. His Chopin evokes memories of some of the greatest interpreters of earlier ages -- especially de Pachmann and Maryla Jonas (whose rare recordings are available from Pearl). Luisada's rubato will seem willful and wayward to those raised to believe Rubinstein was the last word on Chopin, but it will delight those who would like to hear something closer to the first word.

Chopin Complete Edition 8: Waltzes & Chamber Music is a Deutsche Grammophon compilation recording featuring an array of pianists and other fine performers. Jean-Marc Luisada and Martha Argerich to mention a few. Being a Deitsche Grammophon recording the sound is perfect. Jeremy Siepmann has written the music notes. Also included are short biographies of the performers. The booklet also contains very fine pencil drawings from the time when Chopin lived. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.