Est 1923

Chopin Études

Thoughtful Etudes and a chance to hear the six Polish Song transcriptions

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Fryderyk Chopin

Genre:

Instrumental

Label: Avie

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: AV2161

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(19) Polish songs, Movement: The wish (wds. S. Witwicki: 1829) Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(19) Polish songs, Movement: Spring (wds. S. Witwicki: 1838) Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(19) Polish songs, Movement: Merrymaking (wds. S. Witwicki: 1830) Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(19) Polish songs, Movement: My darling (wds. A. Mickiewicz: 1837) Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(19) Polish songs, Movement: The ring (wds. S. Witwicki: 1836) Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(19) Polish songs, Movement: The bridegroom (wds. S. Witwicki: 1831) Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: C, Op. 10/1 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: A minor, Op. 10/2 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: E, Op. 10/3 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: C sharp minor, Op. 10/4 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: G flat, 'Black Keys', Op. 10/5 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: E flat minor, Op. 10/6 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: C, Op. 10/7 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: F, Op. 10/8 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: F minor, Op. 10/9 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: A flat, Op. 10/10 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: E flat, Op. 10/11 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: C minor, 'Revolutionary', Op. 10/12 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: A flat, 'Harp Study', Op. 25/1 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: F minor, Op. 25/2 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: F, Op. 25/3 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: A minor, Op. 25/4 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: E minor, Op. 25/5 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: G sharp minor, Op. 25/6 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: C sharp minor, Op. 25/7 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: D flat, Op. 25/8 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: G flat, 'Butterfly's Wings', Op. 25/9 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: B minor, Op. 25/10 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: A minor, 'Winter Wind', Op. 25/11 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
(27) Etudes, Movement: C minor, Op. 25/12 Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Fryderyk Chopin, Composer
Luiza Borac, Piano
It is comparatively rare to encounter on disc all six of Liszt’s Chopin song transcriptions in sequence. Though No 1, “The Maiden’s Wish”, is often heard with No 4, “My Darling”, not far behind, the others are played about as frequently as Chopin’s songs are sung. It is even rarer to hear them played quite as well as this, easily the best versions of those currently available, not merely because of the intimacy and easeful rubato Luiza Borac brings to the music but for the lovely recorded sound. These are qualities true of the whole disc, which was produced, edited and engineered by the late John Barnes, and is issued as a celebration of his life.

Having charmed us into submission with the Chants polonais, this talented Romanian essays one of the piano’s most testing challenges, a field bristling with superlative rivals. Speed and éclat are not the only criteria by which to judge performances of the 24 Etudes but they are essential elements. Miss Borac, though no slouch, does not present a challenge to Pollini, Lugansky, Perahia, Wild or the young Ashkenazy inter alia. Compare her cautious 1'38" for Op 10 No 2 (often deemed to be the most difficult) with Lugansky, my current favourite, despatching it in a brilliantly articulated 1'16". But her grace and radiant tone, especially in the more lyrical studies (Op 10 No 11 and Op 25 No 5 are good examples), help provide a convincing alternative to more testosterone-driven versions. Malcolm MacDonald contributes an excellent booklet, though he knocks off two years from Chopin’s already too-short life.

Chopin Études

(19) Polish songs, Movement: The wish (wds. S. Witwicki: 1829)

(19) Polish songs, Movement: Spring (wds. S. Witwicki: 1838)

(19) Polish songs, Movement: Merrymaking (wds. S. Witwicki: 1830)

(19) Polish songs, Movement: My darling (wds. A. Mickiewicz: 1837)

(19) Polish songs, Movement: The ring (wds. S. Witwicki: 1836)

(19) Polish songs, Movement: The bridegroom (wds. S. Witwicki: 1831)

(27) Etudes, Movement: C, Op. 10/1

(27) Etudes, Movement: A minor, Op. 10/2

(27) Etudes, Movement: E, Op. 10/3

(27) Etudes, Movement: C sharp minor, Op. 10/4

(27) Etudes, Movement: G flat, 'Black Keys', Op. 10/5

(27) Etudes, Movement: E flat minor, Op. 10/6

(27) Etudes, Movement: C, Op. 10/7

(27) Etudes, Movement: F, Op. 10/8

(27) Etudes, Movement: F minor, Op. 10/9

(27) Etudes, Movement: A flat, Op. 10/10

(27) Etudes, Movement: E flat, Op. 10/11

(27) Etudes, Movement: C minor, 'Revolutionary', Op. 10/12

(27) Etudes, Movement: A flat, 'Harp Study', Op. 25/1

(27) Etudes, Movement: F minor, Op. 25/2

(27) Etudes, Movement: F, Op. 25/3

(27) Etudes, Movement: A minor, Op. 25/4

(27) Etudes, Movement: E minor, Op. 25/5

(27) Etudes, Movement: G sharp minor, Op. 25/6

(27) Etudes, Movement: C sharp minor, Op. 25/7

(27) Etudes, Movement: D flat, Op. 25/8

(27) Etudes, Movement: G flat, 'Butterfly's Wings', Op. 25/9

(27) Etudes, Movement: B minor, Op. 25/10

(27) Etudes, Movement: A minor, 'Winter Wind', Op. 25/11

(27) Etudes, Movement: C minor, Op. 25/12

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