Title : Chopin: Études, Opp. 10 & 25
Author : Chopin, Fryderyk
Release Date : 20020917
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $14.48
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Editorial Reviews : Through channeling his intelligent virtuosity toward musical ends, Murray Perahia reveals the distinctive voice of each Chopin Étude, rather than imposing a 'one style fits all' aesthetic upon the music. His easy mastery of the right-hand double-note challenges of Op. 10 No. 7 and Op. 25 Nos. 6 & 8 and the taxing rotary patterns of the famous 'Black Key' and 'Winter Wind' études enable him to clarify their significant left-hand component. Note, too, the 'Octave' étude's long-lined ebb and flow, or a sharper, more aggressive C-sharp Minor, Op. 10 No. 4, than the one Perahia recorded in the early 1990s. But his unusually brisk take on the E-flat minor (Op. 10 No. 6) trivializes the music's aching harmonic tension, and the two C Minor Études (including the 'Revolutionary') are a shade inhibited compared with the unbridled bravura of the versions by György Cziffra (Philips) and Juana Zayas (Music & Arts). These quibbles, however, should not prevent piano lovers from experiencing Perahia's well-considered and superbly engineered interpretations of the oft-recorded masterpieces. --Jed Distler
Buyer Reviews : After an outing into the works of the old Bach, Perahia is back in repertoire that to me better suits his personal balance between sonics and structure. Even in a catalogue that is overly filled and contains two cornerstones of the romantic discography in Cortot and Pollini, this cd is a welcome addition that deserves an enthusiastic full endorsement.
Perahia's Chopin has always a favorite for those for whom Polllini may be a bit too masculine and who consider Pirez too soft-focused. True to style this approach is again explored to great effect on this disc. Perahia really develops the individual character of these 24 works and fleshes out their melodic strengths. His technique is flawless and his unique ability to bring out a rainbow of colors, even when the difficulty of the material makes it almost impossible, shines as bright as ever.
I must have heard the Tristesse etude, Op 10 nr 3, about a thousand times in at least a hundred versions, but Perahia's is among the very best. Two other highlights of this album are Op 10 nr 6 and the Aeloian harp Op 25, nr 1. The former sounds better than I have ever heard it before. Perahia turns it in a very lively and rhythmically stunning Mazurka, that even the likes of Janis and Pogorelich would not dare to dream of. Similarly, the Aeloian harp deserves a place in the Piano Hall of Fame for most melodious performances of all time.
These examples are only a few of the highlights of this album that is consistently top notch. My only real qualm is with the revolutionary etude Op 10 nr 12. I admit I have been spoiled over the years. I was fortunate to be bowled over by Pogorelich live version in 1985 and I am still looking for words to describe Pollini's left hand nuclear attack earlier this year at the Kennedy center. Yet, Perahia's version strikes me as a little sluggish and missing the necessary revolutionary fervor.
This is however only a minor comment. Both those who have ten versions of these works on the shelf already and those who are new to the piano's greatest two sets of studies should not hesitate and buy this disc.
