Search - Chopin, Brendel :: Polonaises

This is an ABSDLUTELY GREAT recording

Frank von Rhein | 02/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike other reviewers here who gave this anything under five starts(they must have listened on bad equipment), I find these Brendel rendition's of the heart of Chopin's Polonaises absolutely spellbinding and enrapturing, time and time again.



I've been a Brendel fan since the late 60's and am now 44, so that's how deep an impression Brendel's made on me since I was young. I don't like some of Brendel's later recordings, especially the Beethoven Concerto's with the Vienna Philharmonic, but I believe these recordings of Chopin, especially the Andante Spinato Polonaise are without peer and very unusual for Brendel. Not straight at all like he is on occasion. The best thing I like about these recordings is the tone of the piano, so quintessentially Brendel and Chopin I believe. The rubato he does employ seem to come from the essence of the music, not manufactured like some other's in their Chopin playing.



When a Brendel recording doesn't reward, and those are rare, it's probably just an off day for him. On any given Sunday, he's the one of the best performers alive, in any genre of music, and what is very unusual is you can hear the intensity and focus time and time again on his recordings. This recording is case in points, I feel people aren't listening too closely if you can't appreicate this recording on many levels, totally unlike any Chopin you've heard before or since. This recording is worth a thorough listening and will repay itself over and over again for a lifetime. One of his best!



I believe Brendel never singled out this Chopin recording as one he disliked, I think it was the idea of playing Chopin in general. This is a real rare treat, Brendel playing

Chopin, and doing a masterful job at it . It ranks up there with his Beethoven Concerto recordings with the CSO, his live Diabelli variations, his Liszt Sonata recordings (muliple), his Schubert Sonata recordings, and on and on. These recordings are some of the best kept secrets in pure music making in all of recording history. If you love the art of classical piano playing this disc is absolutely essential to own, and hopefully start you on a discovery of other outstanding Brendel recordings. Pick up at risk of spending inoordinate amounts of time listening and enjoying."