Search - Frederic Chopin, Claudio Arrau :: Chopin: Waltzes

Some people love Arrau's Chopin, and some don't

John Grabowski | USA | 03/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...And I do. Some people find Arrau's Chopin--especially his hanlding of works such as the waltzes--charmless and heavy. I don't. His tempi are slower than most others take these pieces, but to me they're never *heavy.* And listen to his TONE!! He makes the piano sing with a gorgeous burnished tone and ringing trebles. In his book on the great pianists, Harold C. Schonberg comments on the "high finish" or Arrau's pianism. That high finish is nowhere better evidenced than here. Recorded in 1979, the sound is crystal clear and gorgeous. And Arrau finds depth in the moodier waltzes that will make other performers sound like they're skimming.There are, of course, other performances of these works I'd not want to be without--Rubinstein and Cortot come to mind--but this superb recording belongs in every classical piano-lover's collection. And these are the best-sounding set of Chopin waltzes I've ever heard. If this is out of print by now, it's worth a search in the used bins."