Search - Chopin, Shelley :: Piano Sonata 3

Sublime

David Saemann | 06/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Howard Shelley has carved out such a niche for himself recording rare 19th Century repertoire that it is easy to forget his excellence in the standard repertoire. The present CD is an achievement of the highest caliber. You are struck by how beautifully Shelley plays the piano. His articulation is superb but never overdone, always placing contrasting motifs in a proper perspective. He is not an especially loud pianist; this is not Chopin playing of the volume, say, of Vladimir Ahskenazy. Nevertheless, Shelley handles his dynamic range superbly; contrasts always make their point. His rubato is exquisite--the phrasing is always alive and keen, but never overwrought. As performances, the Impromptus explore a wide range of emotions, almost like a suite. The Barcarole receives a big performance, at times even tempestuous. The Sonata is superbly paced, given an almost Olympian perspective. The sound engineering throughout the disc is superb; I've never heard a better digital recording of a piano. This is a perfect disc to daydream along with. Shelley stakes his claim to be among the finest Chopin pianists on disc."