Search - Chopin, Lipatti :: Waltzes

Lipatti's Waltzes remain in the catalog for good reason.

11/11/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Browsing through classical CD's, many people may wonder why an "ancient" recording of Chopin's Waltzes, in decidedly low-tech sound, is still being sold. After all, there are 100's of "Waltzes" on the market. The answer is that this recording is still often referred to as the definitive performance of the waltzes and for damn good reason. Chopin is very difficult to play well; most performers schmaltz it up, a la movie music and the like, while others treat Chopin merely as a chance to show their superior technique, which is why so many piano competitions use Chopin as their flashy show pieces. To play Chopin technically well, yet emphasizing its feeling without becoming maudlin, is surprisingly difficult for even the best pianists. In this recording, Lipatti succeeds brilliantly at achieving such a balance. The waltzes do not sound overly-cutesy or too precious or as if they were dazzling showpieces; they sound elegant, witty, and sincere, and also all of a piece. This is Lipatti's most famous recording; although his Bach Partita #1 is every bit as good, this is the record that made him famous. He died at age 33 of Leukemia."