Search - Raoul Koczalski :: Historic Recordings

Forgotten virtuoso

Robert Stefaniuk | Piaseczno, Poland | 02/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Koczalski couldn't derive much from Mikuli, because he died when Koczalski was still very young.

But his playing is different from present interpretations and he was considered great virtuoso and Chopin interpreter during his career. It was long time ago, in 30's.

He plays soft, well rounded sound, but with hidden intensivity and tension. Some people doesn't feel this tension at all and they are dissapointed with his play.

It certainly doesn't suit the modern standarts, but you me find his interpretations intriguing. It happened in my case, so I give 5 stars."

Chopin lineage

Tertullian | USA | 10/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The five stars I award this CD should be qualified - this is a historical recording; not something you just pop on for "background music". Raoul von Koczalski was a student of Karl Mikuli, who was a student of Chopin himself. Koczalski, the performer on this disc, is supposedly the inheritor of an authentic Chopin tradition of interpretation. Some have cast doubt on how much exactly Koczalski had imbibed from Mikuli, and even how much Mikuli was able to trasmit to his pupil that he had learned from Chopin himself, but it is certainly an intriguing question. At least, you will be able to hear a historic tradition first-hand."