Search - Chopin, Ts'Ong :: Fantasie / Polonaise-Fantasie / Berceuse

My favorite Chopin CD!

Tian Yu | Nagoya, Japan | 04/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just cannot understand why nobody has written reviews on this great music at Amazon, for this CD has been my favorite Chopin for years!!! Though Fou Ts'ong is not as famous as his friends such as Lupu, Argerich, he is also great,very great! Don't wait, buy it! You are going to like this CD.(I remember it was scored *** by Penguin...Right?)"

Scintillating playing by a true master

Dean, London | 09/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I concur fully with the previous reviewer. I have to admit that I feel somewhat ambivalent about Fou Ts'ong's Chopin playing. When he's good, he's very very good, but I had mixed feelings about his recording of the Nocturnes, which are generally characterised by fast tempos, something many listeners are likely to find disruptive. However, this particular CD can be recommended without hesitation. It contains what must surely be one of the most exciting recordings of the Fantaisie ever committed to disc, whilst his performance of the Barcarolle - a piece whose rhythmic subtleties make it incredibly difficult to play well - is simply stunning. I have sometimes been disappointed by Sony recording technology (e.g. Perahia was badly let down in his recording of the Ballades), but the clarity of the piano sound on this CD is amazing.



My comments above notwithstanding, Fou Ts'ong's recording of the Nocturnes can still be rewarding as his tone is lovely and there is much to admire in the playing. In particular, his renditions of the famous Opus 27 No. 2 and the posthumous Nocturnes are all ravishingly beautiful. However, I would suggest that anyone interested in exploring this artist should start with the recording of the Fantaisie, Barcarolle etc. and then move on to the Mazurkas and Nocturnes at a later date."