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Review by darkroommd May 4, 2007 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
Being a huge Perahia fan (based on his Bach albums) and an admirer of the Chopin Etudes, buying this disc was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, this has been one of the few disappointing SACD's I have bought. I will let it sit on the shelf for a while, re-audition it from time to time, and hope to like it better. It just doesn't happen...
I must agree with jbcortes' review above that the piano sound is somehow lacking. I cannot describe it better than he does; it just sounds veiled, unfocused, lackluster. In louder sections, the sound seems to coagulate and ring, while the softer sections seem to lack nuance. For those gotta-have-multi-channel folks out there, beware this is stereo only (and not hybrid).
It is too bad that Perahia's fine performance is dampened by the recording. Technically, he is brilliant here, and more powerful than I imagined he could play, considering his masterful Bach playing. Those that have attempted to play (let alone master) Chopin's Etudes, such as myself, will appreciate Perahia's amazing dexterity. However, I am not sold on all of his interpretative choices for Chopin. His rubato doesn't sound "Chopinesque" to me. I get more of a "Beethovenian" feel here, as he seems to rely more on feelings of restlessness, agitation, and stark contrasts.
In summary, while the SACD catalog of Chopin Etudes remains somewhat limited, you may prefer whatever RBCD you already have in your collection.
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