Frederic Chopin Evgeny Kissin - Evgeny Kissin Plays Chopin (8 tracks) +Album Reviews

Kissin - Wisdom with Age

K. Bowersock | Lubbock, TX | 02/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, this is a fascinating all-Chopin recital, and a worthy addition to the ever-growing Kissin discography. I recently read a less than enthusiastic editorial review of this record on another website (written by Jed Distler) which criticized Kissin's use of rubato (amongst other things), saying that it was somewhat sporadic and seemed to be without rhyme or reason. I can't say that I agree. The rubato which Kissin uses is totally compelling, and really helps to shed new light on these oft recorded pieces. Here we have Kissin melding the innovative and aristocratic playing of Arrau and Perahia, with the stone cold accuracy of Pollini; in other words, downright great Chopin playing.

I have been listening to Pollini's recording of the polonaises for years, but as soon as I heard op. 26 no. 1, I was in awe. It was as if I was hearing a completely new piece of music. The "heroic" polonaise, op. 53 gets a white-hot presentation; and although no one for me can match Horowitz in this piece, Kissin really gives a wonderful and distinctive performance. The impromptus are comparable to Perahia's famed recording, with Kissin giving each one an exact, yet heartfelt interpretation. The only weak-link for me was the impromptu op. 51 , which seemed to get a somewhat cold and straightforward performance; but this a minor weak spot, and should be a deterrent to none.

Any new Evgeny Kissin CD is bound to do well (in terms of selling). The reason for this is that Kissin really brings something new to everything he does, and this is evidenced through every one of his past records. He has a distinct tone that he extracts from the piano, just as Horowitz, Gould, Arrau, and many other of the greats did. You could always tell without looking when they were playing; I believe this is true of Kissin as well.

So, all in all, this is a great recital - truly stunning Chopin playing which would be a great addition in anyone's collection. As for the detractors, who say Kissin's better days have passed him by, well, hopefully this recital will help them reassess their position.

"

Great Chopin album

K. Bowersock | 01/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been known for his performances of Chopin, Kissin's newest Chopin album doesn't fail to deliver. This album focuses exclusively on Chopin's Polonaises and Impromptus, including the popular Fantasie Impropmtu.

Being a young man of obvious talent, Kissin's technical ability is plenty abundant and thus gives each piece a smooth and organic quality that is sometimes missed from pianists of lesser technical ability. His beautiful tone compliments his playing greatly creating a more serene atmosphere in the slower and darker pieces as well as a prideful and heroic sound in the Heroic Polonaise.

If you enjoed Kissin's Chopin Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 disks, chances are you will enjoy this one immensly!"

How is Kissin doing today?

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 03/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's been a great pleasure to follow Kissin from child prodigy to adult superstar, even though along the way there have been stumbles so far as musical growth goes. This live Chopin recital from 2004 earns raves here at Amazon and with the audience, which goes crazy at the end, but The Gramophone hated it, calling Kissin's four Polonaise performances "the most lugubrious on records." (They don't feel that slow, actually, and it must be said that Kisssin takes all repeats.)

The pianism here is phenomenal, it goes without saying. Tone and touch are mesmerizing, control is superhuman, and so on. Since Kissin produced two great live Chopin recordings from Carnegie Hall for RCA, it's great to have new works in this recital from the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, which seems to have become a favorite venue among top-flight musicians.

I admit to being a bit uncomfortable with Kissin's current status; he is so prodigious that there's a risk of overpowering Chopin with dazzle and display. The Polonaises are not among Chopin's intimate works, and each is so individual that interpreting them is dfficult. Pollini's only failure on CD in Chopin, as far as I'm concerned, was his overly aggressive disc of the Polonaises. Kissin is more flexible and yielding, and his forte inerjections aren't harsh. Therefore I like these versions very much, and the 'Heroic' Polonaise is particularly appealing in its rhythmic freedom.

If only the Impromptus sounded more spontaneous--as the Amazon reviewer says, maybe some of the wonder has gone out for Kissin. There's a veneer of impersonal expertise here--compare Kissin's readings to Yundi Li's on DG, who seems more personally involved in the poetry. The Fantasy-Impromptu is arresting, yet I miss the younger Kissin's freshness. We'll jsut have to see where this supreme pianist is headed. In sum, this is one of his best recent outings."

Evgeny Kissin Carries Chopin Tradition Into the 21st Century

Raymond Vacchino | Toronto, ON. Canada | 08/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Kissin when he gave his Canadian Debut at Roy Thompson Hall. The young star we were hearing so much about was dedicating the concert to the memory of his idol, Glen Gould. As he walked across the stage his manner was filled with curiosity and wonder, his eyes glancing all around the great hall! Once his fingers touched the keys, this "youthful" look turned into a command of the keyboard, the command displayed by great artists! The Chopin CD takes off with the two Op.26 Polonaises. We are immediately grasped with virtually unparalleled tension and sonority, coupled to one of the most flawless techniques in instrumental history. The Impromptu in A flat, Op.29, has been played so frequently, but in Kissin's hands it is the little masterpiece Chopin intended it to be. The F sharp Impromptu Op.36 contains some interesting hints of variation form. The arabesques in the final section display Kissin's sensitivity and delicate handling of this florid writing. He conveys the left hand expressively, but not at the expense of the right. The Impromptu in G flat Op.51, is little played;it is one of those treacherous pieces; but again Kissin's fluency and technical freedom, make it sound much easier than it is.The Fantaisie-Impromptu Op.66 is the earliest of the series and can become less interesting played by some, yet Kissin carries Chopin tradition throughout this performance, displaying the elegance and charm of the semiquaver figuration; the middle section in D flat has the needed element of sentiment, without the sentimental salon style, that is so unbecoming to anything composed by Chopin.The Polonaise, Op.40 No.2 in C minor-a work that has lately fallen into undeserved neglect, carries an extraordinary amount of harmonic felicities. Kissin keeps the bridge work particularly stable, and the dark,somber character is successfully conveyed. The far end is a magnificent engineering feat and the result is a most poetical enrichment of texture. The final Polonaise, Op.53 in A flat reveals amazing harmonic asymmetry and then springs into rapid life.Kissin again commands our attention through all the triadic positions in forceful octaves; but again, it is the embattled stateliness that Kissin maintains throughout the polonaise rhythm, that positions this festival recital CD, as one of the most expressive and captivating displays of "true Chopin tradition."

Author: Raymond S. Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (honorary)"

Kissin and Chopin are a perfect match

Mark S. Schaffer | Las Vegas, NV USA | 03/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For sheer technical ability Kissin is still among the very best and when coupled with his sensitivity to this composer's works it is hard to do better."

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