Presto Con Fuoco-Molto Piu Lento (Sotto Voce E Ben Legato)-Tempo I-Risoluto E Sempre Piu Animato
Presto-Sostenuto-(Tempo I)-Piu Mosso
Presto Con Fuoco-Meno Mosso-Tempo I-Meno Mosso Tempo I
Presto-Piu Lento-Tempo I-Piu Presto
Add Simon Trpceski to the recent surge of young virtuoso pianists. Born in 1979, he studied in Skopie, the capital of his native Macedonia, won prizes in Italy, the Czech Republic and England, and is already embarked on a ... more »flourishing international career. This is his third CD; the other two feature Russian music in one all-Rachmaninov and one mixed program. These five Chopin compositions give him ample opportunity to display his technical prowess and facility. He lets his hands act as equal partners, tossing off glittering, exhilarating runs and cascades at hair-raising speeds; his tone is beautiful, capable of delicate, singing lyricism and crashing chords, and he combines a fiery temperament with poetic sensibility. In the Sonata, the Funeral March is extremely slow, stately and solemn, the Finale and Scherzo are exciting but too fast for clarity, the Trio is dreamy but excessively free. The four Scherzos make somewhat strange bedfellows. Written years apart, they can hardly have been conceived as a group to be performed together. All are basically fast, virtuosic, dramatic and aggressive, with the turbulent impetuosity set off by oases of calm. Only the last one has the capriciousness, elfin lightness and charm of a true Scherzo. Trpceski brings out the changes of character and the contrasts in texture and mood both between and within the Scherzos almost too starkly; the dynamics often become exaggerated, the expression effusive. But the playing is invariably splendid. --Edith Eisler« less
Add Simon Trpceski to the recent surge of young virtuoso pianists. Born in 1979, he studied in Skopie, the capital of his native Macedonia, won prizes in Italy, the Czech Republic and England, and is already embarked on a flourishing international career. This is his third CD; the other two feature Russian music in one all-Rachmaninov and one mixed program. These five Chopin compositions give him ample opportunity to display his technical prowess and facility. He lets his hands act as equal partners, tossing off glittering, exhilarating runs and cascades at hair-raising speeds; his tone is beautiful, capable of delicate, singing lyricism and crashing chords, and he combines a fiery temperament with poetic sensibility. In the Sonata, the Funeral March is extremely slow, stately and solemn, the Finale and Scherzo are exciting but too fast for clarity, the Trio is dreamy but excessively free. The four Scherzos make somewhat strange bedfellows. Written years apart, they can hardly have been conceived as a group to be performed together. All are basically fast, virtuosic, dramatic and aggressive, with the turbulent impetuosity set off by oases of calm. Only the last one has the capriciousness, elfin lightness and charm of a true Scherzo. Trpceski brings out the changes of character and the contrasts in texture and mood both between and within the Scherzos almost too starkly; the dynamics often become exaggerated, the expression effusive. But the playing is invariably splendid. --Edith Eisler
CD Reviews
Extreme but fascinating
A music lover | Fremont, CA | 07/30/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Trpceski generally takes these pieces at breakneck speed, and with quite a bit of force in the louder passages. He manages to avoid banging in spite of the power here. This is how I was taught not to play Chopin...but it works, in my opinion. Poetry is rarely (but occasionally) sacrificed in service of pyrotechnics. There are lovely moments, but most of the time you are just amazed at the technical prowess on display. Not a good choice for an only recording of these works, but an excellent alternative if you are looking for a fresh take on these oft-recorded pieces. No buyer's regret here."
Technically Flawless
Hamilton Carver | 06/26/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"There is absolutely no point in writing an online review comparing this CD to the best pianists in the world. One is not doing a review, but a comparison to legends, it's like trying to drown an ocean, there's no point in writing it. Online reviewers should at least have learned and performed the pieces herein before writing about them, so they know what they're talking about. Listening to different pianists and recordings does NOT automatically make you an expert in criticizing them.
Having said that, this CD brings out it's own unique flavor to the classical music world. Every pianist is allowed to express themselves in their own unique way, just like artists are allowed to paint whatever they like and everyone still calls it art!
Think of a piano piece as a painting, composed with the added element of time. It is flowing, never the same and always unique, that's what makes every recording of it so different and special, but the fundamental elements in the core of the piece remains the same.
Simon Trpceski is technically flawless in piano playing. The speed and skill at which he handles these pieces, which are not easy by the way, is amazing and you just wonder how he gets his 10 fingers to fly around the keyboard like that.
However, I did feel that the Sonata was played a little faster than usual in the beginning, but it was compensated for with varying speeds and interesting changes in tone throughout all 4 movements.
The Scherzi were incredible, No.2 and 3 just blew my mind away with the way he managed to contrast the colors in each of the different sections, AND fly all over the place with those running passages, how is that humanly possible? Chopin's 4 Scherzi were always dark and very dramatic, never meant as jokes and I think Simon has managed to pull it off marvelously.
Chopin was too weak to play all his loud (FF to FFF) sections, so he compensated for it by feeling it. He couldn't possibly handle the speed at which the Sonata or Scherzi were played at in this CD, but I'm sure he would be very happy with the results."
Speed Causes Musicality To Take Second Place!
Raymond Vacchino | Toronto, ON. Canada | 03/30/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Simon Trpceski is a young inspiring pianist most of the time, however this youth takes on the spirit of a race horse that often loses control of pacing its speed. This lack of pacing becomes most obvious in the opening movement of Chopin's Sonata in B flat minor.
Chopin knew Italian well and his markings are to be respected. The "Grave" becomes the only place to establish the tempo of the entire movement. Unlike Rubenstein, Argerich and Perlemuter to name a few, who produce a precise Grave in the opening four bars, Trpceski chooses his own tempo which pushes these precious bars instead of allowing them to unfold gently, with an element of spacing. As a result the following "Doppio movimento", 'double the speed', literally takes off at such a clip, it becomes difficult to follow the rhythmic uniformity. Trpceski also plays with a forced tone and a restricted dynamic scope making the forte-piano contrasts less dramatic.
Once Trpceski reaches the second subject 'sostenuto', he suddenly becomes extremely poetic, imaginative and considerably musical. He allows the long phrases to unfold gently with an immaculate touch and subtle range of color.
Technically the scherzo makes greater demands than anything else in the sonata. Here, Trpceski projects most successfully. The end of the movement shows a keen dramatic sense and awareness of continuity in its preparation for the funeral march.
Once he begins the slow movement, the grief Motif is responsive to the darkness of the somber character. In the Trio theme, Trpceski produces a magnificent warmth of sonority with fluid long phrases. He makes effective use of pedal coloring, agogics, rubato and texture of sound. The phrase line has the needed cohesion and motion to prevent stalling.
The finale, on the other hand, is marked 'presto', as well as the clearly marked 'sotto voce e legato'. It indeed should be played fast, but Trpceski always conveys a wealth of harmonic subtlety throughout. He produces a wealth of detail and technical skill that is satisfying even when played at half speed. Despite the moments of questionable approach, Trpceski brings this masterpiece to its close with a style that is considerably striking.
The basic form of a Scherzo, is that of the minuet and trio. The more expanded the piece becomes, and the weightier the material it sets up, the greater, usually, is the contrast which seems to be demanded. Chopin pays attention to these considerations throughout the four. Trpceski however, once again pays more attention to breathtaking speed causing the musical aspects to suffer. His accents are harsh and overly attacked, and when rests occur he clips the last note with such force that he changes the location of the beat which distorts the rhythm. Yet, when playing the trio sections, Trpceski once again proves his ability to convey playing that is imaginative and full of character. Long phrases are memorably resourceful, varied and involving. With his sensitive touch and range of color, he draws every ounce of poetry from the section.
The overall playing needs to become more within character concerning choices of tempo, touch and dynamic range. Trpceski must give greater consideration to Chopin's intentions and the quality of sound he desired the most. Harsh attacks and forcing the tone are specific areas that artistic maturity will correct in playing that has already proved Trpceski to be one of the major upcoming pianists.
Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus. Classical Music Critic"
Exciting, original Chopin.
Abel | Hong Kong | 02/08/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For quite a long while, Simon Trpceski's Chopin is the most exciting.
He doesn't need to follow any 'established school' - he has a huge reserve of technique to burn, and a wonderfully original musicality and sets him apart from ALL other young emerging pianists.
His Sonata No. 2 is very exciting. The contrasts in mood are being brought to almost an extreme, made possible by his superlative prowess. If Ivo Pogorelich was once hailed as the 'original' Chopin interpretor, one would need to listen to Trpceski to savour more fully the meaning of this word. There is simply not a single bar of Trpceski's Chopin that's not original.
The 4 Scherzi come in further direct comparison with Pogo's. For a young and imaginative soul's outpouring, Trpceski's strikes one as being more naturalistically ardent.
I have been dying to hear some more of this pianist's Chopin, but in reality, he is a very much all-round interpretor, equally adept in Rachmaninoff and Debussy.
Time will come when this pianist swamp the top concert halls."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1