Chopin: 24 Preludes,Op. 28 / Sonata for Piano No. 2,Op. 35 / Polonaise,Op. 53

Frederic Chopin (Composer), Evgeny Kissin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Evgeny Kissin
• Composer: Frederic Chopin
• Audio CD (February 8, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00002DE5F
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,946 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #13 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Polonaises
  • #65 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Preludes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply, breathtaking, March 15, 2000

By 

jared (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin: 24 Preludes,Op. 28 / Sonata for Piano No. 2,Op. 35 / Polonaise,Op. 53 (Audio CD)

Mr. Kissin's playing never fails to excite me. His playing, especially on this disc, has tremendous authority, energy, beauty and above all a sense of effortless. The preludes of Chopin may be short pieces but many of them are technically just as challenging as the Etudes. A few examples are the B flat minor and G sharp major. Kissin makes them sound easy with his incedible technique. The rythmic drive is so intense in the G sharp that it makes your heart beat faster. If you want just purely beautiful poetic playing sample the F sharp or the heartwarming E flat. The sonata while not my favorite work is astonishing indeed. The scherzo is equally exciting and brilliant as Rubenstein's, just listen to the chromatic fourths to see what I mean. The finale is the freakiest I have ever heard, truly bone-chilling. Last but not least is the Polonaise. This performance makes it live up to its nickname as the "Heroic Polonaise". Truly excellent rythmic drive again ( except in the middle section with the left-hand octaves where I expected more fire, but I respect his choice not to get too wild here) making you feel like polonaising. An altogether excellent release with an equally excellent recording quality.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where's the poetry?, February 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Chopin: 24 Preludes,Op. 28 / Sonata for Piano No. 2,Op. 35 / Polonaise,Op. 53 (Audio CD)

I'd have to say I'm sorry I got this one. My listening has concentrated on the preludes, which are the most distinctive works composed by Chopin. There's no denying that Kissin has awsome technique, but I was acutely disappointed at these performances. The rhythms are often warped in an unmusical way, eighth notes grouped in clusters that don't correspond to their musical meaning. The tempos are consistently fast, the rubato absent or unnatural. There's a wirey tone to the (big) piano sound. Overall, I found these performances lacking in depth, in understanding, in soul. I listened to two recordings of the preludes in tandem. The other one, by Ivan Moravec, is 35 years old but sounds better and is oh so much more lovely.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Certainly not as subtle as Rubenstein, but brilliant!, July 15, 2000

By 

C. Moss "Buxthehude" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chopin: 24 Preludes,Op. 28 / Sonata for Piano No. 2,Op. 35 / Polonaise,Op. 53 (Audio CD)

For those who are seeking to compare Kissin's Chopin Preludes to the recordings of Rubenstein or Horowitz, FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS! Kissin takes a much more highly percussive approach to these works than the pianists of former times. Certainly, Chopin's piano was not capable of producing many of Kissin's bombastic effects, but when viewed in a "non-purist" light, this recording is quite electrifying and pleasing. However, it is a new painting of Chopin's notes that does not hold up to being an "HIP" or interpretation according to the composer's intentions. However, it is a brave, bold rendering of music from a century and a half ago. Kissin is undoubetedly one of our century's finest pianists, but it is a miracle that no hammers or stings broke during the recording of these Chopin Preludes! If the listener can accept a highly unique approach to traditional literature, then this CD will be greatly appreciated. But if you cherish subtlety, keep looking! Personally, I loved this CD!