From the second that the left hand begins the oscillating theme in the first track of Fantaisie Impromptu it is clear that Naxos have made a fantastic decision in the use of Idil Biret as the pianist for this collection.
The pianist plays with more human regard for the pieces than I have ever heard from another- she is never rushed, even through the mad vivace tempo marking the Minute Waltz- even in that she plays with a beauty and subtle tone that leaves the listener glad to have partaken in the experience.
The collection is superbly recorded and sourced- there is a wide variation of the Chopin favourites here, and they can all be excused their vast notereity solely as Biret's interpretations are so secure and novel.
For any Chopin fan this CD takes you through all forms of his works- from the surprising anger of the Revolutionary Etude to the perfectly executed militarism of the Polonaise Militaire, and breathing new life even to the most over-played pieces such as the Nocturne in Eb.
The collection is refreshing and exciting- there are some less well-known Chopin pieces thrown in for good measure, and these serve as a light relief from the 'big guns'- such as the Nocturne in Db, No.8.
It is difficult for me to emphasise how enchanted I am with Idil Biret's playing- I apologise for the constant repetition of this. There is not one interpretation that I would disagree with, indeed, when learning the Revolutionary Etude I found her input indispensable- this is a rarely unleashed piece and she plays it in a style not only adept at the discovery of meaning behind the piece but also crucially at the technical methods by which Chopin would have let these loose. She has a firm grasp on the concept of Chopin as a Romanticist through technical expression, and as such leaves the listener astounded at the beauty of the rendering.
The pieces are well-laid out; we are thrust straight in to the rapid Fantaisie Impromptu and left dumbfounded by the Ballade in G minor. The pieces are well grouped, taking the listener again on a journey through these works- the Nocturnes, the Etudes, a fine selection of each.
The CD box is bundled with a short excerpt relating to the early life of Idil Biret and a brief analysis of the works on the CD, and is most educated and interesting to read!
For a Chopin devotee these pieces are a fine selection of the pinnacles of each of his styles, and even if many of these are in your collection already it is well worth a look even just to hear the beautiful playing of the pianist, Idil Biret.
The CD I have found goes exceptionally well in conjunction with 'The Best of Chopin', also produced by Naxos with Idil Biret as the pianist...! Though some of the tracks are repetitions of one another, some gaps are filled- including a valuable Piano Concerto.
1 Impromptu No. 4 in C sharp minor, Op. 66
2 Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9/2
3 Nocturne No. 8 in D flat major, Op. 27/2
4 Waltz No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 64/2
5 Waltz No. 6 in D flat major, Op. 64/1
6 Waltz No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 18
7 Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35: Marche funebre
8 Mazurka No. 5 in B flat major, Op. 7/1
9 Polonaise No. 3 in A major, Op. 40/1
10 Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major, Op. 53
11 Prelude No. 15 in D flat major, Op. 28/15
12 Etude No. 5 in G flat major, Op. 10/5
13 Etude No. 3 in E major, Op. 10/3
14 Etude No. 12 in C minor, Op. 10/12
15 Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
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This is a really nicely written review, which conveys a real sense of the music included and how it's presented. I also really like that this time you included a list of the featured pieces, as this is really helpful to a consumer making a purchase decision on a compilation cd. Nice one!
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