All Artists: Frederic Chopin, Vladimir Ashkenazy Title: Chopin: Mazurkas Members Wishing: 1 Total Copies: 0 Label: Decca Release Date: 4/9/1996 Genres: Special Interest, Classical Style: Number of Discs: 2 SwapaCD Credits: 2 UPC: 028944808629 |
Frederic Chopin, Vladimir Ashkenazy Chopin: Mazurkas Genres: Special Interest, Classical
Pillow - Roll (Scribbles) | |
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CD ReviewsA Fine Performance Abiola O. Lapite | 11/27/1999 (5 out of 5 stars) "A wonderful performance of some of Chopin's most poignant compositions. The relatively low profile enjoyed by Chopin's mazurkas, in comparison with his nocturnes, waltzes and preludes, enables them to move the spirit in a manner that is not possible with excessively familiar works - and the mazurkas do move the spirit quite a bit. Get this CD - it will afford you many years of pleasure for less than the cost of two movie tickets." Sweet and Moving Katydid | California, United States | 01/12/2003 (5 out of 5 stars) "A fully satisfying rendition of Chopin's mazurkas. Ashkenazy, a Russian, reminds us that these are first and foremost Polish folk dances, and are only secondarily French salon pieces (hence, he avoids the temptation to play these like dreamy, oozing, cloudy, nebulous bits of musical cotton candy, a treatment to which so many artists joy in subjecting poor Frederic's music.) Also, don't miss Ashkenazy's wonderfully introspective recordings of Shostakovich's supremely introspective preludes and fugues. A revelation." Ashkenazy's Mazurkas BLee | HK | 01/22/2005 (4 out of 5 stars) "Why do some audience love Ashkenazy so much, praising him to the 7th Heaven-- because he had the gust to deflect from Communism, or because like Li Yundi, he was then a novelty to the West? Part of the reason lies in the fact that Ashkenazy was and is still in possession of a great and unique technique, being able to make certain wonderful chimes with his double thirds etc with his comparatively small hands. And Chopin fits well with Ashkennazy's physique as audience would be able to discover from these pieces. (But to be fair, his Rachmaninov is also quite a sensation.)
It's so much fun listening to Ashkenazy alongside with some other great pianists. Coming to Mazurkas, it is of interest to compare him with Friedman whom most critics say is unsurpassable. There are some marvelous Mazukas from Horowitz too. Be that as it may, there is some uniqueness about Ashkenazy's music that may or may not be altogether to all audience's taste. To me, as far as Chopin is concerned, I like Dang Thai Son even better. And he himself admires Dang so much that he often invites him as his partner." |