CHOPIN EVOCATIONS
DANIIL TRIFONOV, Piano
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Mikhail
Pletnev (Conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 479 7518 (2 CDs)
****1/2
Here
is yet another recording pairing both of Frederic Chopin's piano concertos, but
this one is quite different. Spread over two discs, multi-award winning Russian
pianist Daniil Trifonov plays the concertos in reverse order, which is
chronologically correct.
The Second Piano Concerto in F
minor (Op.21) was composed before the First Piano Concerto
in E minor (Op.11) but published later, hence the larger opus number. He takes
an expansive view of both concertos, aided and abetted by veteran
pianist-conductor Mikhail Pletnev's orchestrations which drags out the tuttis,
highlights and adds quirky and piquant woodwind voices.
Trifonov's
playing is however light-footed and scintillating which prevent the
performances from sounding portentous or ponderous. His Chopin-inspired
additions are excellent, teaming with his teacher Sergei Babayan on two pianos
in the delectable Rondo in C major (Op.73), and two wonderful sets of
variations.
Chopin's own La Ci Darem Variations
after Mozart's Don Giovanni and Federico Mompou's Variations
On A Theme By Chopin, based on the little A
major Prelude (Op.28 No.7), get performances which will be hard to
better. Throw in further encores in the form of Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu,
Barber's Nocturne and shorter pieces by Schumann, Grieg and Tchaikovsky,
one gets a more complete picture. This is truly Chopin advocated with
dedication and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment