Title : Chopin: 4 Ballades / Perahia
Author : Chopin, Fryderyk
Release Date : 19950124
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $11.98
Amazon.com Price : $9.94
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Editorial Reviews : Chopin's Ballades are imaginary short stories that leave the plot to the listener's imagination. The trick to a successful performance of such freeform compositions depends on the pianist's ability to realize all the color and variety of the various episodes while at the same time retaining control over the narrative structure of each piece. In short, it requires a classical poise and balance in projecting the relationship between form and content. This is just the sort of thing that Murray Perahia does so well. He has a firm overview of each work as a whole, but also a keen enjoyment of the music's often ornate details. The result is wholly satisfying both emotionally and intellectually. --David Hurwitz
Buyer Reviews : I don't agree with the reviewer below who finds these 'too perfect.' Some people have found Perahia's earlier recordings of Mozart and especially Beethoven poetic but at the same time lacking weight and gravitas. Well, that's certainly not the case here, because not only does Perahia produce a consistently beautiful sound, he also does full justice to the music's more passionate outbursts. This is very distinguished Chopin playing, and the miniatures (programmed after the Ballades) make me hope for complete recordings of Chopin's other piano music (Etudes, Preludes, Nocturnes, Waltzes, etc.) from this artist. The sound is demonstration-quality, except that the bass is just slightly heavy. All the same, this is an unmissable recording!
