Search - Frederic Chopin, Emanuel Ax :: Chopin: 4 Ballades; Scherzos; Mazurkas

Three phases of a great Chopin player

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think Emanuel Ax has settled into routine playing as he's aged, but these are premiere Chopin interpretations from two decades ago. Now that Sony and BMG have merged their classical divisions, it's possible to issue Ax's excellent 1985 reading of the four Ballades--the best ever done by an American--with a 1988 recital of Mazurkas and the four Scherzi. The first recital was originally on RCA, the second on Sony. But just to confuse things a bit more, the readings here of Scherzos #2 and #4 are dropped in from an even earlier RCA recording.



The provenance won't matter that much to the general listener, who will be happy with the budget price for probably the best Chopin two-fer on the market. Begin listening with the four Ballades, where Ax is at his most impassioned and inspired. Even three years later, when he got to Scherzos #1 and #3, he had become more refined and relaxed, less a romantic risk-taker. He's remained that way ever since, but here at least we can hear Ax in his glory. Faithful as I am to Pollini and Kisin in this repertoire, this collection often rises to their heights."

Richly-crafted Chopin

Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 12/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amoung the great composers, Chopin's compositions to me have a special richness and deeply satisfying quality to them - both intellectually and emotionally. There rarely tire the ear. The Ballades especially have a richness to them - taking us on a unique journey in Chopin's world, freer to explore and probe the depths of human experience.



Equally so, the quality of Emanual Ax's readings here (of especially the Ballades) also possesses this deeply satisfying quality that makes one marvel of Chopin's greatness. Maybe it is the lack of excessiveness or showmanship and just spinning out the works with a keen clarity as the score indicates that creates this response. You get the sense that he serves the music wholeheartedly and with honor. Yet it is not playing that lacks emotive depth and virtuososity - just not calling attention to itself. Ax is one of our great Chopin players and the Ballades here may be the finest example. The other pieces are excellent too but the Ballades strike me as a special recording event for this humble artist. Perahia and Ohlsson also recorded some fine Ballades worth hearing.



Especially exceptional too is the sound quality from Sony - one of the finest I have on disc for solo piano. Beautiful, clear, deep, optimal resonance. And it is one of the very few piano discs that sound good on an average car audio system (most sound horrible). Compositions - 5 stars; Peformance - 4.5 stars; Sound - 5 stars."