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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Zayas a real Chopin pianist!!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Preludes (24)/Barcarolle/Andante Spianato (Audio CD)
This recording of the Preludes, Barcarolle, and AS&GPB exhibits high craft. Next to it, Argerich's account, while very good and interesting, must yield. Zayas has the passion of Argerich but the control of Pollini. Paradoxical, I suppose, but ever so true. Harold Schonberg reviewed this CD along with Louis Lortie's recording of much the same music (see J/A American Record Guide). Here's some of what he had to say: "She filters Chopin's notes through a fertile mind, with a very personal but never overdone kind of romanticism that looks back to the great pianists of a previous age. . . . Zayas is an extraordinary pianist. Next to her Lortie, even with his brilliant technique and excellent musicianship, sounds rather pale. His phrasing is accurate but tight-too literal for these volatile pieces. Both pianists enjoy superb recorded sound. Put your money on Zayas." There you have it from the former senior critic of the New York Times. Not convinced? Perhaps the fact that Zayas's recording of the Etudes (M&A CD891) was declared to be the best Etudes recording of the century will persuade even the most skeptical.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Straightforward reading,
By
This review is from: Preludes (24)/Barcarolle/Andante Spianato (Audio CD)
Lately I've been listening to multiple recordings of the preludes again for the umteenth time in as many years. Reading these reviews of Ms. Zayas work, I was salivating to hear her. Well, the pianism is impeccable and tasteful, and she sure does have the chops, but for me, her interpretations are, dare I say, too healthy, too sunny, a little too muscular. This is why I don't care much for Rubinstein's playing. I want more darkness in spots, a bit of morbidezza. If we are on the same page, try Tzimon Barto, who brings something really personal, and in places, exquisitely tender moments; or Argerich, who is, as usual, on fire; or Pogorelich, who, while often over the top and wedded to point making, has some very interesting things to say about the music. For a more mainstream, but also more poetic approach, I like Ivan Moravec. My two cents.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
So WHO iz Juana ZAyas??? Hmmmm????,
By
This review is from: Preludes (24)/Barcarolle/Andante Spianato (Audio CD)
If you haven't yet heard of sensational Pianist Juana Zayas, finish reading this review, then go immediately to her internet web site: juanazayas.com. Meanwhile, even without background information, you can fast click on whatever shopping site(s) you favor to get her Chopin CD recordings. The Opus 28 (plus) preludes is the topic here. The etudes and sonatas 2-3 are also available. Have you relished the old-school, golden-age-of-pianism recordings by such luminaries as Josef Lhevinne, Ignaz Friedman, Alfred Cortot? Have you found it hard to listen to their recordings transferred from the last century's 78 rpm disc masters, without heartily lamenting the primitive aspects of sound technology at that time? Now, suddenly, ...well not so suddenly it turns out: Ms. Zayas has been living in the west for 30 years, raising her 3 sons, practising like a demon, and expanding her repertoire so that when she could eventually return to the concert stage (i.e., NOW, HERE); she would have depth and breadth of repetoire... now suddenly you can hear Chopin played by someone with heart, mind, fingers, and ... most amazing of all, an elusive quality of open, soulful simplicity. Hers is a most enduring yet special kind of Chopin: she manages to achieve the balance, the poise we associate with Artur Rubinstein's later stereo Chopin recordings, melded intimately with the her own fire and Cuban intellect. Beyond surface glitter, beyond customary wowie-zowie forms of piano mastery, we burn with her in this music, if we let ourselves. I think if you go to one of her concerts, you will notice lots of other very good pianists sitting in the audience, ears wide open, maybe even taking notes. Yes, I know you are thinking: There is no dearth of available Chopin recordings. Yes, I know you are thinking, I don't want to listen to ALL of the etudes, or ALL of the preludes. O posh, O piddle, O fiddlestix. If you have wondered what the etudes/preludes might sound like, played all together as music first and etudes or preludes second; these performances will inspire your confidence. Indeed, I wager that performances by Juana Zayas will quickly become necessary to you. So, stop reading right now, get one of these recordings and return to the sort of Chopin that really does nourish a listener's intangible, peripatetic humanity. Join the club of people who will admit to being astounded that such a lady should be alive in our times to share her unique, even atavistic genius with us. I think the shades of old Cortot, old Friedman, old Lhevinne .... many other old masters... are smiling, perhaps. Chopin himself may even be smiling. I know I am smiling because I am listening to Ms. Zayas play Chopin preludes, right now, as I write this review.
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