Search - Frederic Chopin, William Kapell :: Chopin: Mazurkas

Wonderful Chopin!

Frank Deis | Highland Park, NJ USA | 04/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"William Kappell was, in a way, the Dennis Brain of the piano. Brain had a meteoric career playing the French horn, which was cut short by his early death -- and cognoscenti have been seeking out his old monaural records and CD's for decades. Kappell also had a tragically short career which accounts for the only deficiency of this CD. It was recorded with old monaural equipment. I predict that you won't notice that at all, because the genius of William Kappell shines through in these pieces. I think I would describe his Mazurkas as both very 'clean' and also 'lush.' He is playing carefully and bringing out the subtle beauty of these odd little dances. Chopin's Mazurkas always seem to have a "sweet and sour" character, often with a lyrical major theme at the start and finish, and a discordant minor gypsy-style theme in the middle. In Kappell's hands you hear other layers, and some of the pieces even have a sort of tango-like feel. Anyway, it's hard to describe what is so good about this CD, but buy it. You will listen to it again and again."

Legacy Performances of a Unique Talent

Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 09/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chopin's Mazurkas have always proven an especially challenging collection for pianists. Over the last century three pianists came to be associated with them - Iganz Friedman, Arthur Rubinstein and William Kapell. Kapell, who died tragically at the age of 31 in a plane crash in 1953 had recorded a considerable number, and these are what make up this selection. Along with the two mentioned artists Kapell was instinctively at home with these highly complex short works. Where most pianists, even the very best ones could struggle a bit in these works' pitfalls, Kapell made it sound all so effortless. He was just at home in the Mazurka's tangled voices as a rabbit in a briar patch.

If you are familiar with some of Kapell's other performances and fear he might be too aggressive or push too hard here, fear not, this is really a very different Kapell then the driven concert performer.

The sound is perfectly acceptable and I highly urge you to consider this CD along with the performances of the Mazurkas by Friedman and Rubinstein. You will have a marvelous collection with some of the most intriquing and personal music Chopin ever composed.

"

Wonderful performances !

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 10/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kapell's piano was imposing in mass and these Mazurcas selection are played with élan, full of delicacy , and rounded at all dynamics levels performed with aristocratic elegance and aristocratic mien .

Kapell was always a passionate man and in the search for the rightful tone , the precise articulation to get what he wanted literally signed for the eternity these piano works loaded with that intimacy hard to find in concert halls .

Fifty years ago in that absurd accident William Kapell the most prominent pianist of his generation died , leaving behind him a meteoric career a fevered pianism of the highest level .

And in this special and painful day I share with my intimate friends and music lovers and meet them to pay a more than deserved homage to his memory .

Several generations of pianists have emerged with undeniable virtues and amazing technique but most of them are not capable to state such level of commitment with the music beyond the score .

That is why his throne still keeps empty ."