Chopin Valses (Waltzes) [Import]

Frederic Chopin (Composer), Alexandre Tharaud (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Alexandre Tharaud
• Composer: Frederic Chopin
• Audio CD (June 13, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B000F1HQWE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,448 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #61 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Instruments > Keyboard > Piano

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An artist of note., July 29, 2006

By 

Stephen Ross Pierce "Stephen Pierce" (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chopin Valses (Waltzes) (Audio CD)

Alexandre Tharaud is an artist on the rise. His Rameau disc is one of the best recorded discoveries I have made in the last few years. I have slowly been acquiring more of his recordings as he is an artist of great integrity and imagination. This disc did not disappoint and Tharaud's ravishing playing is matched by wonderful recorded sound. Surely this is one of the best discs of the Chopin Waltzes to be seen in quite some time? One only wishes that DG would re-release Krystian Zimerman's wonderful accounts!

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Playing, But..., March 26, 2007

By 

Doug - Haydn Fan (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chopin Valses (Waltzes) (Audio CD)

I purchased this CD hoping against hope to hear a fresh, delightful approach, but as usual with modern performers, that was not what I heard. Instead we have 'serious' Chopin playing. Yes, there is still a fair amount of charm, and well-judged rubato: monsieur Tharaud has not only listened to Lipatti but also Hofmann. And that is all to the good. This is most assuredly wonderful playing. Yet, despite many performance issues I have to admit a nagging inclination for Paderewski in this sort of repetoire. Chopin's waltzes are mercurial as much as anything - when a performer becomes too polished in dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's some of the sense of freedom so innately at the core of these works is lost - that whistful sense of play and caprice cannot help but be diminished when you begin to hear more of the architecture and too little of the finery. If one must err in the waltzes I suppose I prefer a lighter touch. Tharaud is frequently too careful and studious.
Having said this, I must make clear I am NOT making a case for wholesale self-indulgence - this is not a plea for Kissin!
So, redoubtable and considered music-making, but I'll continue to prefer 'lesser' performances when I wish to enjoy the Chopin waltzes. And, to judge from the large number of used versions for such a relatively recent release, perhaps I am not alone in this opinion.
If you are still curious how a Frenchman plays Chopin EMI has just reissued Samson Francois performing the 14 Chopin waltzes. This set I would suggest as an alternative - Francois is far more inclined to play with the music, and is unquestionably more poetic.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tharaud's Waltzes, January 24, 2011

By 

James Peyton (columbia, sc United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chopin Valses (Waltzes) (Audio CD)

I have been listening to quite a few recordings of the waltzes of late since I dismissed them as being somewhat lightweight years ago when working with my first piano professor. Many years later, I have returned to these works and purchased many recordings such as Pires on Erato, Fliter on EMI, and Ott on DG. Of these recordings, I have enjoyed Tharaud's the most because of his incredible tone which is rounded and full without being bombastic. Most important are his interpretations which evoke all the nostalgia of Chopin's Paris. This is most compelling set and deserves the accolades that many reviewers here on Amazon as well as those in various magazines such as BBC Music have given it.