Frederic Chopin, Janusz Olejniczak - The Pianist: Music from the Motion Picture
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Free Music Notes for The Pianist: Music from the Motion Picture
Free Music Review: A Too-Easily Dismissed Artist
Hit: 5 Stars
A previous reviewer considerately corrected others who are perhaps not as well versed as he is about classical music. That reviewer also quite cavalierly dismissed the playing of Janusz Olejniczak, chiefly it appears because this is a movie soundtrack.
A number of eminent pianists - Rubinstein, Bolet, Moravec, Ax, among many others - have recorded movie soundtracks. And, like them, Olejniczak has recorded a great deal more. For instance, his albums for the Opus 111 label, which also recorded Sokolov, should be sampled by all lovers of Chopin, if only because Olejniczak can be heard playing on one record an Erard piano from Chopin's time, and on another an even more remarkable Pleyel. It's fascinating to find the Erard really does have what Chopin called a "ready-made" tone; the Pleyel by comparison is a revelation.
But then so it the playing of Olejniczak. He was not discovered by Roman Polanski. Olejniczak was a prize-winner of the Warsaw Chopin competition at the age of 18. He is greatly respected in his native Poland and in Japan, which both know something about great Chopin playing.
Olejniczak is a forceful artist who nevertheless never pounds; one frequently is put in mind of how Chopin envied the powerful way Liszt played his etudes. Olejniczak's Polish "accent" is, of course, entirely appropriate for Chopin, as is his wonderful voicing of chords and sure but free rhythm. Olejniczak plays with a full-throated lyricism -- it is the Bellini of "Norma" rather than "Sonnambula" -- but the pianist can also be touchingly tender. Above all he is dramatic in the fullest sense, vividly characterizing each piece. It's easy to see why Polanski and other film directors have been drawn to him. Chopin clearly is Olejniczak's life blood.
That previous reviewer may sincerely prefer such very different musicians, one to the other, as Rachmaninoff, Rubinstein, Cortot and Argerich, but I hope no one will hold it against Olejniczak (who, by the way, I don't know personally -- no special pleading here!) simply because he is not as widely known as some other pianists. He is a genuine find, and Polanski should be thanked for sharing a superb talent with a wider public.
Free Music Review: Visit to a Grave
Hit: 5 Stars
Winning the best screenplay and several other Oscars at this year's Academy Awards, Roman Polansky's The Pianist is the true account of Polish musician Wladyslaw Szpilman's survival during the Nazi regime. This CD of music "from and inspired by" the film evokes the story beautifully. Chopin's brooding Nocturnes, either melancholy or deeply grieving, but only rarely triumphant, foretell the sorrows of his native Poland in an almost preternatural manner. The highlight of the disc is a performance of a Chopin Mazurka by Szpilman himself, recorded in Warsaw in 1948, shortly after the events portrayed in the film. Full of clicks and pops, the sound quality opens a window to the forlorn harmonies of another time. As this track is the only authentic Szpilman performance, listeners wishing for more should find his similarly titled CD on the Brentwood label, "The Pianist: Original Recordings by Wladyslaw Szpilman".
Contemporary Polish pianist Janusz Olejniczak presents the other Chopin pieces in modern performances. His performance style is much more exaggerated that Szpilman's. Olenjniczak takes dramatic liberties with the tempi to great effect, so that the tiny Prelude in E minor becomes almost a visit to a grave. His variety of touch and range of dynamics are most beautifully demonstrated in the G minor Ballade Op. 23, and the Andante spianato of Op. 22.
The only miscue is the inclusion of the soundtrack piece, "Moving to the Ghetto" by Wojciech Kilar. It is a folk-like clarinet solo with orchestra, and its simplicity is misplaced surrounded by the sophistication of Chopin. Otherwise, The Pianist is a tremendously effective and moving CD.
Free Music Review: It's a Treasure!
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought this CD after seeing the movie 'The Pianist' twice, and reading the book by Wladyslaw Szpilman once. I have listened to it at least 20 times by now and I am still not tired of it. I am not a musician, nor do I understand music, but I do enjoy great music, particularly classical music. I liked Chopin long before I saw this movie but now I am a big fan of Chopin. A lot of the credit goes to Roman Polanski who created a masterpiece, to Adrien Brody's superb acting, and the wonderful piano by Janusz Olejniczak. My most favorite piece is Ballade No.1 in G minor,op. 23 (#5 on the CD), which Szpilman's character in the movie plays for the German officer. I also love Nocturne in C sharp minor (#1 on the CD), which we hear at the beginning of the movie, and after the war is over. The Grande Polonaise at the very end (#9 on CD) fills me with great joy because to me it represents a happy ending, inspite of irrecoverable loss. I have listened to Chopin played by several other pianists, and I like Olejniczak's interpretation very much. The 'ghetto' piece by Kilar, though a bit out of place among the Chopin pieces, brings back memories of this wonderful movie. Without it, the CD would have been incomplete. My minor disappointment is that the cello piece played by the character Dorota, and the small portion of Moonlight Sonata, are not on this CD. I would have liked to see them included. Other than that, this is a wonderful CD and I am very happy with my purchase.Free Music Review: Marvellous!
Hit: 5 Stars
While being very familiar with the Holocaust and F. Chopin's work, I have to admit I had no idea who Wladyslaw Szpilman was. After watching Polanski's masterpiece of a movie, I'm glad that I got to know the life of a man who went through hell and managed to survive thanks to the courage and strength given to him by Chopin's music that he constantly played in his head under surreal circumstances.
"The Pianist" music soundtrack is a wonderful collection of Chopin's piano works. Of course a few masterpieces of the polish great composer have been left out, but I think that's more than understable. After all, Polanski needed certain pieces that connected best with some of the images and scenes of his movie. And in the end we all agree that he certainly pulled it off.
Before watching the movie, I didn't know who Janusz Olejniczak was either. Now I do. His Chopin is really marvellous, especially the "Nocturne in C-sharp Minor", "La grande Polonaise brillante" and "Nocturne in E Minor Op. 72 No 1". Getting to know Olejniczak's Chopin is yet another reason to be thankful to Polanski.
Free Music Review: Absolutely beautiful
Hit: 5 Stars
While not versed in the finer aspects of classical music or their composers as other reviewers on this page are, I like to think of myself as someone who appreciates classical music and the Pianist soundtrack is classical music at its best.
Being half-Polish, I heard of Frederic Chopin through the years but was never told of him or his beautiful - if somewhat sad - music (I learned much about Beethoven, my favorite composer, though). I was cheated but feel that I have caught up for lost time with this soundtrack.
My favorite track is "Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1." It's four and a half minutes of pure bliss. Kudos to Janusz Olejniczak for playing beyond beautiful piano (he's not a concert pianist for no reason, eh?).
The Pianist is one of the best movie soundtracks of all time. The movie was powerful (unlike *other* directors who made Holocaust films, Roman actually lived through that black period in human history, making it a cut above the rest), the book was moving and the soundtrack is great relaxation.