Customer Reviews

Frederic Chopin: Complete Works For Piano And Orchestra

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Upon listening to Arrau playing the Chopin concerti, the first thing that jumps to attention is his tone: it metamorphises between lively and bright to aching, naked beauty, most notably in the Op.11 1st Concerto. I keep listening the first movement over and over to recapture that reflective, dark tone of his at the culmination of the theme's development. Somehow, his tone reminds me of drops of dew in a moonlit night. However, considering that Arrau was already 69 years old when he made this recording, you may think that reflective and spiritual is all he has, but surprisingly he managed to put in energy and zest where it's required in the fast movements. I've seen a video of Yundi Li, the Chinese prodigy who won the 2000 Chopin Piano Competition, and Arrau doesn't lose out in the comparison in terms of energy.

Overall, Arrau's interpretation concentrates on exploring the intimate, passionate side of these pieces, which were written in Chopin's youth, and in this respect he brings the same mastery which endowed his interpretations of the Nocturnes. However, this is certainly not at the expense of the zesty side of these pieces.

The core of recording is Chopin's 2 piano concerti, and the rest of it is composed of his other works for piano and orchestra, which are in fact more commonly played as piano solos. The most famous of these is the Andante Spianiato and Grand Polonaise, and it's very obvious that the orchestra is almost superfluous in these pieces. Speaking of the orchestra, the London Philharmonic conducted by Eliahu Inbal is understated but unerringly faithful in backing the pianistic centrepiece provided by Arrau.

Overall, a recording to be highly recommended, even more so considering the low price of this release.

This is a GREAT album; and 2 CD's yet, both filled (over 150 minutes total) with glorious piano music. A reissue of 1972 recordings, nothing is missing as Arrau and company create emminenetly listenable renditions of these Chopin masterpieces. No lover of romantic piano music should be without them. (Reviewer's note: this sounds like I am the promoter but I am simply a well-satisfied customer.)

If you haven't had the chance to hear Arrau's performances of Chopin's works, buy this disc. You will truly be hooked. Unlike many people who believe that Ashkenzy or Rubenstein are the ultimate Chopin interpreters, I must say that Arrau rivals and tops them. His flexible and slower style of playing matches the romanticism of Chopin's works. Coupled with a great conductor and orchestra, this brings out a top-notch performance.

These discs are well worth the small investment.

Claudio Arrau es en muchos aspectos un pianista de excepción especialmente en estudiar y determinar la forma en que interpretara cada pieza, para Chopin estas grabaciones son excepcionales, el toque de Arrau es prodigio y el acompañamiento soberbio. Tenemos en este CD los dos conciertos para piano y orquesta que no merecen mas detalle que son dos grandes obras de la música clásica, sumemos variaciones "la ci darem la mano" sobre la obra de Mozart, el concierto rondo Krakovian, la Fantasía sobre aires polacos y el andante spianato y gran polonesa brillante y tenemos un conjunto de obras de excepción, obras de gran belleza, virtuosismo y elegancia propias de Chopin. Un CD soberbio, impresionante, bello. Cerramos el conjunto con tres impromptus que hacen descollar el trabajo del gran pianista chillanejo.
Disfrutelo, un conjunto de obras de la mayor calidad en un CD de precio economico.

i have no words to experss how i love thos cd, now a days most of the pianist play just fast focusing only on the fingers with out working on the artistic element.

This CD gave me an appreciation of his music with an orchestra because I am much more used to performers who play Chopin's piano music with no musical backup. This worthwhile CD is as pretty as the design on its cover.

This Item was purchaded as a gift to my mother. She realy love to have this music in her collection as one of her favorite composer.