Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1
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Free Music Notes for Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1
Free Music Review: flaming beauty with clarity and grandeur
Hit: 5 Stars
I can listen to all of this with total confidence that what I hear is all approaching very close to what both the composer and the Muses of our age would intend us to hear, ideally.
Seems that Olga and Lang Lang, though coming from diverse places, have caught very similar waves -- there was once an old, stereotypical type of "classical music showmanship" that seemed to buzz over some of the most dramatically detailed musical content for the sake of showing off a preconceived "virtuosity". This old stunt-man buzz is obviously becoming a thing of the past.
From the very start, Olga's rendition of the Concerto's 1st Mvt opens us up to an awesome display of detail, setting up an atmosphere for a long view into the depths of the metaphysical universe. It's interesting that Chopin seems to comfirm for us, first, that there is indeed much to overwhelm the psyche in the austere grand design, potentially. But when one carries through to the later movements the Muses would suggest (comically, perhaps) that at the center of all things are, ultimately, only the humble intricasies of love and happiness, as fundamental creations under the overarching canopy of the Almighty.
As a would-be Player myself, I find I can learn much from this CD's tremendous commitment to the Art itself. If I had young students again, as of old, I would have them put in lots of time listening to this one especially, and recreating some of the effects. I can see special Kids with ears to hear and a mind's eye to see gathering around Olga.
Free Music Review: A "Regular People" Review
Hit: 5 Stars
Wonderful early romantic music, I took a "risk" on this after noticing that it only got a 5 out of 10 on classicstoday, just goes to show you what the critics know, this is music that catches your attention right away and never lets it go. Also there are times in this that I can just imagine the idee fixe from the Symphonie Fantastique breaking right in and feeling at home, anyone else feel that way? anyway, enjoy, and keep me updated.Free Music Review: FRESH AND INSIGHTFUL
Hit: 5 Stars
Olga Kern offers a fresh and insightful interpretation of the Chopin Concerto. She plays as if she were creating the music. One hears this overly familiar repertoire as if for the first time. Her playing is rich in sonorities and is heartbreaking in its tenderness and urgency. She lays the pearls on the velvet.Free Music Review: Chopin pot pourri
Hit: 4 Stars
This album is mostly awesome. I particularly enjoyed the shorter works such as the Fantasy Impromptu. I have never been a fan of Chopin's Concertos. He is indeed the master of the smaller works. I would have rather heard the 2nd sonata on this recording. I had heard Ms Kern play the fantasy in recital and had to have this recording. She is quite the showman in concert but her interpretations are very musical on disc.Free Music Review: Van Cliburn Winner's venture into Chopin...
Hit: 3 Stars
Olga Kern is a fine young pianist, with good musicality and sound keyboard technique.
I have heard say that she is a keen interpretor of Rachmaninoff.
Here, she offers a complete album in Chopin's favorite pieces, and exposed herself to severe competition.
First of all, being a winner of a major international piano competition, she is confident enough to challenge winners in the 'specialist' field, viz. Chopin.
I have to frankly admit that she gains not one single inch of ground here.
Sa Chen, the 4th runner-up in the 14th Chopin International Competition came up with a more recent release of the Chopin concerti with Lawrence Foster at the baton. That recording offers an e minor concerto of profound emotional committment as well as detailed and nuanced reading that Kern could not really measure up to in the same piece.
Then of course there is Rafal Blechazc's immaculate performance at the 15th Chopin International Competition itself, arguably the most successful performance of the e minor concerto heard in these two decades.
Of other Chopin 'winners' renditions, there was the 1960 debut recording in EMI by Pollini, and the DG 1967 recording of Argerich. In terms of age, both were not one jot more senior than Kern in the present recording. Pollini's has much more technical balance and clear enunciation, while Argerich's has much more fire and passion. Then there is also Dang Thai Son's recent 'period' recording of this work with Bruggen at the baton.
ALL the above have a clear edge over Kern's No. 1 Concerto in e minor.
On the other pieces in the album.
There is some very fine renditions, to be sure, on the individual pieces. The Op. 19 Bolero is an exceptional reading, full of rthymic lilt and freshness, with uncanny shading.
Not so much for the other individual pieces, though.
The Op. 53 Polonaise is particularly obtruse.
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