Evgeny Kissin Plays Chopin

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

Product Details

• Performer: Evgeny Kissin
• Composer: Frederic Chopin
• Audio CD (January 9, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000KX0I54
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,642 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kissin - Wisdom with Age, February 2, 2007

By 

K. Bowersock (Lubbock, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evgeny Kissin Plays Chopin (Audio CD)

First off, this is a fascinating all-Chopin recital, and a worthy addition to the ever-growing Kissin discography. I recently read a less than enthusiastic editorial review of this record on another website (written by Jed Distler) which criticized Kissin's use of rubato (amongst other things), saying that it was somewhat sporadic and seemed to be without rhyme or reason. I can't say that I agree. The rubato which Kissin uses is totally compelling, and really helps to shed new light on these oft recorded pieces. Here we have Kissin melding the innovative and aristocratic playing of Arrau and Perahia, with the stone cold accuracy of Pollini; in other words, downright great Chopin playing.

I have been listening to Pollini's recording of the polonaises for years, but as soon as I heard op. 26 no. 1, I was in awe. It was as if I was hearing a completely new piece of music. The "heroic" polonaise, op. 53 gets a white-hot presentation; and although no one for me can match Horowitz in this piece, Kissin really gives a wonderful and distinctive performance. The impromptus are comparable to Perahia's famed recording, with Kissin giving each one an exact, yet heartfelt interpretation. The only weak-link for me was the impromptu op. 51 , which seemed to get a somewhat cold and straightforward performance; but this a minor weak spot, and should be a deterrent to none.

Any new Evgeny Kissin CD is bound to do well (in terms of selling). The reason for this is that Kissin really brings something new to everything he does, and this is evidenced through every one of his past records. He has a distinct tone that he extracts from the piano, just as Horowitz, Gould, Arrau, and many other of the greats did. You could always tell without looking when they were playing; I believe this is true of Kissin as well.

So, all in all, this is a great recital - truly stunning Chopin playing which would be a great addition in anyone's collection. As for the detractors, who say Kissin's better days have passed him by, well, hopefully this recital will help them reassess their position.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Chopin album, January 9, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Evgeny Kissin Plays Chopin (Audio CD)

Having been known for his performances of Chopin, Kissin's newest Chopin album doesn't fail to deliver. This album focuses exclusively on Chopin's Polonaises and Impromptus, including the popular Fantasie Impropmtu.

Being a young man of obvious talent, Kissin's technical ability is plenty abundant and thus gives each piece a smooth and organic quality that is sometimes missed from pianists of lesser technical ability. His beautiful tone compliments his playing greatly creating a more serene atmosphere in the slower and darker pieces as well as a prideful and heroic sound in the Heroic Polonaise.

If you enjoed Kissin's Chopin Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 disks, chances are you will enjoy this one immensly!

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How is Kissin doing today?, February 28, 2007

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Evgeny Kissin Plays Chopin (Audio CD)

It's been a great pleasure to follow Kissin from child prodigy to adult superstar, even though along the way there have been stumbles so far as musical growth goes. This live Chopin recital from 2004 earns raves here at Amazon and with the audience, which goes crazy at the end, but The Gramophone hated it, calling Kissin's four Polonaise performances "the most lugubrious on records." (They don't feel that slow, actually, and it must be said that Kisssin takes all repeats.)

The pianism here is phenomenal, it goes without saying. Tone and touch are mesmerizing, control is superhuman, and so on. Since Kissin produced two great live Chopin recordings from Carnegie Hall for RCA, it's great to have new works in this recital from the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, which seems to have become a favorite venue among top-flight musicians.

I admit to being a bit uncomfortable with Kissin's current status; he is so prodigious that there's a risk of overpowering Chopin with dazzle and display. The Polonaises are not among Chopin's intimate works, and each is so individual that interpreting them is dfficult. Pollini's only failure on CD in Chopin, as far as I'm concerned, was his overly aggressive disc of the Polonaises. Kissin is more flexible and yielding, and his forte inerjections aren't harsh. Therefore I like these versions very much, and the 'Heroic' Polonaise is particularly appealing in its rhythmic freedom.

If only the Impromptus sounded more spontaneous--as the Amazon reviewer says, maybe some of the wonder has gone out for Kissin. There's a veneer of impersonal expertise here--compare Kissin's readings to Yundi Li's on DG, who seems more personally involved in the poetry. The Fantasy-Impromptu is arresting, yet I miss the younger Kissin's freshness. We'll jsut have to see where this supreme pianist is headed. In sum, this is one of his best recent outings.