Search - Frederic Chopin, Krystian Zimerman :: Chopin: 4 Ballades, Barcarolle in F Sharp Major, Op.60; Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49

(-) Beautiful, Thoughtful, Immaculate and all that--BUT...

C. Pontus T. | SE/Asia | 01/06/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"INTRODUCTION: Given the vast, poetic and narrative qualities of Chopin's marvelous Ballades, they would almost seem tailor-made for Zimerman's exquisite and considerate pianism. And when first listening to this well-recorded disc, one is easily destined to believe so is in fact the case. But, there is a deeper-level problem that only reveals itself upon repeated listening.



REFERENCES: Demidenko (Chopin: Ballades; Third Sonata); Ohlsson (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 3 - Ballades)



Zimerman's Ballades have all the qualities that are associated with his celebrated Chopin playing. They are indeed very beautiful--not a single tone, chord, run or phrase can be faulted in this respect. They are also highly thoughtful--one is never in doubt Zimerman's brain is working at full capacity at all times. Furthermore, they are well-nigh immaculate--studying the score, I doubt there is any fault to be found whatsoever in Zimerman's realisation. So, what is the problem then? Well, the more you listen to this disc, the more you start wondering whether something is missing. What is missing is the penetration to deeper levels which is what distinguishes the greatest Ballades renditions from the almost-great ones (Zimerman is joined by Kissin and Ashkenay in this category).



I do think Zimerman is indeed trying to dig further down the endless pianistic invention and abundance created by Chopin. In the First and Third Ballades, and to some extent also the Barcarolle, he actually is rather successful at it; as a matter of fact, I would rank his Third as close to 'the best' in the catalogue as is virtually possible, due to the just-right pacing and lovely rendition of one of Chopin's most jolly compositions. However, in the Second and Fourth Ballades together with the Fantaisie, his efforts fall short in the end due to the lack of impetuous and naturalness. As has been noted elsewhere about Zimerman's pianism, it sometimes sounds too good to be true--i.e. it is so meticulously well thought out that it fails to deliver in the musical department. Great musicians surely have great brains; the very greatest distinguish themselves by firmly keeping their intellect as a means rather than as an end in itself. (Although I do admire Zimerman's celebrated Debussy Preludes, I find the same critique applicable as an explanation of why they sound too good--that is too studied or perhaps too intellectual...--Claude Debussy: Préludes)



Not sure what record Leslie Gerber describes in the editorial review; it surely doesn't sound like this one. Also a big portion of caution is needed vis-à-vis The Riviera Reviewer who (in a way a feat in itself!) manages to get most facts wrong--e.g. 'the waltz-like rhythms in sections of the Ballades', referring to the 6/4 and 6/8 measures (see further the comments below his review). Far more sensibility can be found in the reviews of Santa Fe and John Grabowski who, respectively, find that '[t]he result is more than a bit calculated' and that '[a]fter a while the safeness grows stale; what he is going to do in a particular moment becomes almost predictable'.



DG's sound reproduction is amongst the more successful attained from this source. I've always failed to understand why the, obviously very competent, German engineers at DG seldom manage to produce a truly natural piano sound. This disc, though, proves there are noteworthy exceptions to this rule.



TIMINGS: Ballades--9:33, 7:43, 7:26, 11:52; Barcarolle--8:54; Fantaisie--13:55"

Want to Hear Chopin?--Well, Hear This!...

Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 12/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

".

Native Pole and winner of the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition (1975), Krystian Zimerman is an extremely gifted pianist with remarkable digital abilities and wonderful timing: in these regards, positive comparison with the great Glenn Gould springs to mind. Too, like Gould, Zimerman seems in his private personality markedly shy.



His artistic personality, however, can be by turns both brilliantly bold and touchingly sensitive.

Even rarer than Gould's are Zimerman's few released recordings.

Collectors would do well to catch this issue ASAP.

.

Disc represents a lovely and stirring recital of the four Ballades with the Barcarolle and f-minor Fantasy.

.

The performance durations of these pieces are comparable with those of Ashkenazy, Kempff, Pollini, and Vásáry (differences not much greater than ~ +/-:01min).

And yet Zimerman's readings here are utterly distinct suggesting a gestalt-perspective--that is, an unified overall vision of the architectonics of the piece from inception to conclusion.

.

Zimerman has a very clean, smooth touch. He exercises incisive perception of phrase periodization.



His timing is splendid, and he seems to emphasize the waltz-like rhythms in sections of the Ballades which (par exemple) Chopin expert Jim Samson notes in the g-minor Ballade wherein "the pivotal episode in Eb-major has all the characteristic phraseology of a quick waltz, [moreover, one of] the main themes draws upon the generic features of a slow waltz. The waltz-like elements of the second theme invite us to draw parallels with some of the actual waltzes. This interpenetration of genres, and the intertextuality it promotes, is highly characteristic of Chopin."



Certainly Zimerman etches in high-relief the many facets of Chopin's nervous melancholy, defiant heroism, and tender beauty.

.

Zimerman's Schubert is also exceptionally superb, and he is recognized as a master Debussy interpreter. Unfortunately his marvelous readings of the Brahms' Sonatas are now out of DG's catalog.

.

Franz Schubert: Impromptus D899 & D935

Claude Debussy: Préludes

Brahms: 3 Klaviersonaten (Piano Sonatas); Scherzo; 4 Balladen (Ballads)

.

Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie, Op. 49; Prelude, Op. 45

Chopin: 4 Scherzi/Berceuse/Barcarolle

Chopin: Etudes/Preludes/Polonaises

.

Chopin: Piano Works [Nocturnes - Waltzes - Ballades - Scherzi]

Chopin: Piano Works [Etudes - Impromptus - Sonatas - Concertos - Mazurkas - Polonaise - Berceuse]

.

The Pianist [HD DVD] (climax is the g-minor Ballade)

.

Chopin (Master Musicians Series)

."

Playing: Excellent. Recording: Average.

Alek M. Goral | 04/07/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Zimmerman's interpretation of the 4 ballades, easily my favorite set of pieces for solo piano, is exceptional. Unfortunetly, this recording is blesmished with a strange whirring/scratching noise which I find very distracting. The slower portions of the 4 ballades are marred by this noise, and, although Zimmerman plays masterfully, I find it difficult to lose myself in this recording."