Customer Reviews

Chopin: Polish Songs

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Chopin, poet of the piano has, in this fine recording, a voice for the poetry of song. Polish is a soft and sweet tongue, just right for songs.

The sound quality is quite good. Be happy that it was issued by the budget label "Helios" of the venerable Hyperion company. Otherwise it would be in the $20 range, considering the state of the dollar.

Of the Chopin song recordings I've heard- and I've heard plenty- this is one of the finest and most artistic. Chopin didn't publish any of his songs during his lifetime,though apparently pirate editions of some of the songs were circulatinng in Poland and Eastern Europe. His friend Julian Fontana collected most of them after Chopins death in to one opus (opus74)in no particular order.

Since most recordings follow Fontana's rather unjustified sequence it is a welcome change that Ursula Kryger and Charles Spencer loosen up and make their own which makes actually a very poignant one; the songs become more elegiac and almost painfully nostalgic towards the end of their "liederkreis".

Likewise, the performances are subtle and have been made with approriate rubato, so vital in Chopin. Kryger, a beautiful mezzosoprano, seems to have a special relationship to Chopin song repertoire. Her empathy towards her great countryman's music comes very evident when you listen to her singing these songs.

This cd inholds also interesting and well written notes.

If you are thinking of getting to know Chopin the vocal composer, I couldn't think of a more better way to start than purchasing this recording. I have had it for many years and I'm always coming back to it when ever I really want to enjoy some Chopin songs!