Abbey Simon - CHOPIN: Sonatas - Scherzi - Ballades

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Music reviews of CHOPIN: Sonatas - Scherzi - Ballades

Music Review: A mixed collection but worth having for the Scherzos
Rating: 5 Stars

Abbey Simon is one of the greatest pianists of our time. He is also one of the most interesting pianists. He is a master of pianistic color, voicing and tone. He has a vividly compelling sinister streak, and his technique is completely capable of communicating it with chilling perfection. That streak allows Abbey Simon to highlight the mischief in Chopin's Scherzos in a way that no one else can. No pianist has made a more interesting and vivid recording of the Chopin Scherzos than Simon. I had grown up on Horowitz's recording of the first Scherzo and had concluded that it was an ugly piece that shouldn't be programmed. In Simon's hands, the piece came alive and I heard it as it was intended to be played. Through Abbey Simon, I went from calling it ugly to making it a major piece in my own repertoire. Similarly, the famous Scherzo no. 2 is given a fresh reading that justifies its title as a Scherzo. You will never listen to the piece in the same way after hearing Abbey Simon's performance. In Scherzo no. 3, the cascading waterfalls in the middle section are done beautifully, and the exhilirating finale is played exquisitely. Scherzo no. 4 also became one of my favorite pieces through Simon's interpretation.

This collection also includes Sonatas nos. 2 and 3, the Ballades, Impromptus, the Barcarolle and Berceuse. Unfortunately, it leaves out Simon's beautiful performance of the Fantasie, Op. 49. Probably the most successful recordings in the collection are those of the Scherzos, the Impromptus, the Barcarolle and Berceuse. The Sonatas seem to be recorded in a less attractive venue that doesn't take full advantage of Abbey Simon's unique sound world.

The Ballades do not naturally take advantage of that diabolical undercurrent that makes Abbey Simon's playing so interesting. These performances are not as compelling as the Scherzos but they are worth having anyway.

Equally worth having are recordings of Abbey Simon's Etudes (my standard of comparison for any other recording) and Nocturnes.

I am so delighted that Vox chose to release these recordings again. Together with Abbey Simon's recordings of the Etudes and Nocturnes they give a wealth of his unique Chopin for us to enjoy. I just hope the Fantasie finds its way back into the catalog.

Description of CHOPIN: Sonatas - Scherzi - Ballades

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

A Polish virtuoso pianist and piano composer of the Romantic period. He is widely regarded as the greatest Polish composer, and one of the most influential composers for piano in the 19th century.

CD One:
Sonata No. in B flat minor Op. 35
Sonata No. 3 in B Minor Op. 58
Impromptu in A flat, Op. 29
Impromptu in F sharp, Op. 36
Impromptu in G flat, Op. 51
Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66
Baracarolle in F sharp, Op. 60

CD Two
Four Scherzi
Four Ballades
Berceuse in D flat major, OP. 57

Abbey Simon, piano

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