Search - Frederic Chopin, Nikolai Lugansky :: Chopin: 24 Préludes

Rachmaninov is his favorite one but this Chopin is marvellou

- | 01/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lugansky Chopin's is quite equal to his stunning Rachmaninov recordings. His perfect technique and beautiful tone just at the service of the music. It's superfluous to say that Chopin's Preludes are "gigantic" Romantic miniatures! Lugansky here performs also two splendid Ballades (n.3 and n.4) and three wonderful Nocturnes (n.1 op.48, n.2 op.27, n.2 op.62).

Highly recommended!"

A highly personal interpreter, verging on narcissism

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/05/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Nikolai Lugansky, now 38, was a silver medalist in the tenth Tchaikovsky competition in 1994. He is an exemplary model of premier pianists from the new Russia and plays at the top level with the likes of Pletnev, Bashmet, Joshua Bell, etc. There is no doubt that he has a big technique and ambitions to match. His recorded output began on the Melodiya label in his teens and quickly moved to the Vanguard label in the West. But he seems to be a divider rather than a uniter with critics. The Gramophone called the initial release of the Nocturnes and Ballades selected here "oddly impersonal."



I don't think that's quite right. Lugansky is trying to express a personality; he's not Vladimir Ashkenazy, whose equally big technique serves a truly impersonal musical profile. But Lugansky's instincts are jarring at times. He's very free rhythmically yet often ponderous and self-serving, making splashy gestures that don't add up to a coherent, convincing interpretation. the closest parallel is Claudio Arrau, another divider of opinion. I don't find Lugansky as maddeningly self-important as Arrau, but neither does he make me feel this music. sampling the Third Ballade and the Nocturne no. 13 that open the first CD will tell experienced listeners whether his keyboard personality is appealing or annoying, because Lugansky is consistency itself: hardly a single measure on this whole program is played with simple directness. It's all style all the time.



Since I can't join the thumbs-up camp, it does little good for me to detail ow the 24 Preludes go. they sound clean, perfectly executed, and assured. but with a surplus of stop-go tempos and woozy phrasing, my instinct was to ditch very early on."

Chopin Preludes played by Nikolai Lugansky

Jan Willem | Washington DC | 12/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not your grandmother's over-used, marshmallowy Chopin. This is firm, powerful stuff. Lugansky is for Chopin what Glenn Gould is for Bach."