Chopin Mazurkas

[richardfinegold]

I heard a young Pianist on the radio today playing a few of the Mazurkas. There seemed to be a lot of italicizing, rubato for the sake of rubato, interrupting the flow of the music. It would be hard to imagine dancing to this Pianist. These pieces are gems, each a Fabrege Egg, and while they have their share of unusual accents and of beats, i think that they can be overinterpreted to death. Artur Rubinstein was the master here.

[visualnickmos]

I heard a young Pianist on the radio today playing a few of the Mazurkas. There seemed to be a lot of italicizing, rubato for the sake of rubato, interrupting the flow of the music. It would be hard to imagine dancing to this Pianist. These pieces are gems, each a Fabrege Egg, and while they have their share of unusual accents and of beats, I think that they can be overinterpreted to death. Artur Rubinstein was the master here.

That's the trick with Chopin, I think. Claudio Arrau also gets it sounding exactly right for my taste. More savoury than sweet, I'd say....

[richardfinegold]

That's the trick with Chopin, I think. Claudio Arrau also gets it sounding exactly right for my taste. More savoury than sweet, I'd say....

Never heard Arrau in the Mazurkas. I really like his way with the Preludes and the Nocturnes.

[richardfinegold]

Rats. I scanned the Claudio Arrau Chopin listings in Arkivmusic. 44 CDs, but no Mazurkas.

[Pianorak]

I rather like Fou Ts'ong and Vladimir Sofronitzky in the Mazurkas, although I wouldn't dismiss Ashkenazy, Rubinstein and Arrau!

[Pianorak]

Rats. I scanned the Claudio Arrau Chopin listings in Arkivmusic. 44 CDs, but no Mazurkas.

Arrau didn't record any Mazurkas - according to his discography.

[visualnickmos]

Arrau didn't record any Mazurkas - according to his discography.

I wasn't referring to the Mazurkas specifically - more his Chopin generally..... His concertos on Philips Duo - very commanding performances.

[richardfinegold]

I wasn't referring to the Mazurkas specifically - more his Chopin generally..... His concertos on Philips Duo - very commanding performances.

I haven't heard his Concertos, and perhaps I should. For me the PCs have always been the most dispensible of Chopin;s ouvre. The slow movements are what generally draw me in, and there is Pianistic brilliance everywhere on display, but compared to the Etudes, Waltzes, Poloniases, Mazurkas, Preludes, Ballades, Sonatas and Impromputus, I just don't think they stack up

[BBMmk2]

Quite agree, RFG! I do hope pianists can learn from the past masters!

[rauschwerk]

David Owen Norris, in his BaL, recommended the recent (2013) Harasiewicz set http://www.mdt.co.uk/chopin-57-mazur...nifc-2cds.html . The customer reviews on Amazon seem to back him up.