Good Recording
Roberto B. Oliveira | Brazil | 07/25/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Since Nelson Freire was included on "great pianists of the 20th century" selection, he has been one of the biggest Stars on the "classical music showbiz". It's totally waste of time to discuss if here is talented or not. With no doubt he's a gifted pianist who can walk comfortably trhough the most difficult pieces for piano.
I'm very fond of Chopin studies, and since I began to study piano I've been listening lots of recordings : Arrau, Berezovsky, Cortot, Guiomar Novaes, Ashkenazy, Pollini, Martha Argerich, Magaloff, Kovacevich, amongst others...
Freire's one , with no doubt, is amongst the most valuable in terms of musical_understanding and tone...
The only negative comment I would like to register is regarding Freire's TEMPO. Sometimes I think that he could play more carefully (doing things better on muscial phrases, for an example) instead playing so fast...
Both Barcarolle and 2nd Sonata are very-nicely played.
Regds.,
Roberto.
"
SACD version better
Hannibal | Los Angeles, CA USA | 08/29/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Having now had the opportunity to compare this CD with the Hybrid SACD version, I urge lovers of great Chopin to purchase the latter, as it opens out the sonority of Freire's Steinway as only SACD can.
Playing this exquisite deserves the very best, and SACD delivers it. Five stars for the SACD version, four stars for this one."
One of the most beautiful and joyous Chopin Etudes recording
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 04/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first thing anyone would notice about this CD is the gorgeous recorded sound, the best I've ever heard of a solo paino. It has great fidelity -- one hears an actual, sonorous piano -- along with a wide dynamic range and detail. The percussive quality of the instrument has been minimized, the lyrical quality brought to the fore. Which perfectly matches Freire's natural, songful style of chopin. There's more visceral excitement with Argerich in this repertoire and aristocratic poise with Pollini, but to my ears, Freire sounds like what Rubinstein's fans hear in his playing (but I don't): warmth, lyricism, sensitivity and nuance in phrasing. Freire adds his own verve and high spirits, makaing this a really joyous experience. I'm only sorry I didn't catch up to this CD, made in 2004 when the pianist was sixty, until now.
There are no intrpretive excesses or eccentricities. All tempos are within the normal range. The thing to appreciate here is a lifetime's experience in giving Chopin his full due for imagination and charm. To think that the composer was only nineteen wen he composed the Etudes op. 10 - wonderful. As for Sonata #2, Freire is a bit lacking in "face," but it's a big, sonorous reading in which the Funeral March swells to immense proportions."