Special Chopin...
Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 09/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
".
Vasary plays a Boesendorfer Grand Salle which has a wonderful timbre quite different from the Steinway.
Vasary's timing and articulation are simply superb: he has a real insight into Chopin's ethos and telos: he renders the inner voicing exquisitely. Vasary's realizations suggest to me what Glenn Gould's Chopin might have sounded like had he played the Nocturnes, Ballades, Waltzes, etc.
The sound is crystal clear; the set a bargan price.
."
Magical Chopin
Dr Karl | 12/15/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I returned to these recordings thirty years after I had heard them on LPs. It was a very rewarding experience. Vasary does not have the explosive virtuosity of Richter in the Scherzi or the sweeping emotional power of Rubinstein in the Ballades, but these are very illuminating performances, full of poetry, elegance and detail. Vasary does not take freedoms in his rubati, but there is nothing pedantic or plain about his playing. His is crystal-clear pianism, accurate and totally engrossing. Don't miss."
Beautiful and stylish Chopin
Robert Turnbull | Perth, WA | 08/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As per my review of Tamas Vasary's recording of the Etudes, Sonatas, Impromptus and Concerti I fully recommend this reissue of the Chopin Nocturnes, Scherzi, Waltzes and Ballades to all lovers of Chopin's music. Vasary is a such a gifted and poetic Chopin interpreter. His interest lies in conveying the heart of Chopin, not in self-aggrandisement and on this recording he captures the elusive spirit of the Nocturnes and Ballades as well as any pianist I have heard. Like most collectors I have several performances of these major works and I return to Tamas Vasary for authenticity of style, cleanness of performance and sheer beauty of sound. Never does he allow his prodigious technique to override the poetry of the music. Vasary is a true aristocrat of the piano and these performances are a truly reliable rendition of some of Chopin's most sublime compositions. Strongly recommended."