Track Listing

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT. 47: Allegro maestoso
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT. 47: Romance
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT. 47: Rondo
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, CT. 48: Maestoso
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, CT. 48: Larghetto
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, CT. 48: Allegro vivace

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7357 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1990-03-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.com
I suppose if I had to choose a single recording coupling both of Chopin's concertos, it would be this one. Perahia is a sensitive, extremely persuasive artist who understands his own particular gifts better than anyone. He's not a muscle-bound virtuoso by any means--neither was Chopin, for that matter. All of Perahia's interpretations are finely graded, carefully prepared, and sensitive to the music's every nuance, but they never sound stiff or studied. In fact, his natural eloquence and grace at the keyboard makes him an ideal Chopin pianist, though he has been very selective in the music that he has actually recorded. Here then is a superb example of artist and composer in perfect harmony with one another. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Still One of the Best Chopin Piano Concerto Recordings
Murray Perahia's elegant playing still stands out in a crowded field of excellent recent recordings of Chopin's piano concerti. It's still one of the best currently available, even with excellent alternatives from the likes of Argerich and Zimerman. Perahia is truly a keyboard poet; his playing filled with much warmth and empathy for Chopin's scores. He is blessed in having Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic as splendid accompanists (Indeed, this may be the finest recording I have heard from either Mehta or the Israel Philharmonic.). Regrettably, Mehta's skills at the podium have been dismissed by many, yet he turns in vibrant, superb interpretations of Chopin's scores in these live performances. Sony's - or rather CBS' - sound engineers did a great job recording both concerti; the sound quality is remarkably excellent for an early live digital recording. The Penguin Guide to Classical Music CDs still rates this recording as one of the finest of these concerti; after you purchase this CD I think you'll agree.

Chopin unbound
This is by far one of the most remarkable recordings of the two chopin concerti. Perahia plays with such brio and fire, with forward-moving tempi yet with tasteful rubato here and there. Mehta makes the orchestra part very powerful and vivid -- some people might find it too vivid, but I absolutely love it since it makes nonsense out of the common opinion that Chopin didn't know how to orchestrate. The E minor concerto has some wonderful counterpoint between piano and various solo instruments (the solo horn in the second subject of the first movement is an example), and Mehta makes them sing as musical lines rather than downgrading them to background as too many conductors do. Even those seemingly dull chordal gestures in the strings are given expressive weight. My only reservation about this disc is the fact that the applause is included. Otherwise, this disc is truly phenomenal. I like it even more than the Argerich/Dutoit recording since Dutoit's conducting is really rather dull, and Perahia is every bit Argerich's equal. This is no disc for people who view Chopin as some sentimental love-sick consumptive weakling.

Magnificent Performance
I recently purchased this CD through Amazon.com. For a live performance, the audio quality of this CD is superb. While I admire any musician who tries to do justice to Chopin's intricate compositions, this performance is truly magnificent. Murray Perahia's rendition of both concerti is the best I've ever heard -- here is a man who really understands Chopin. I appreciate the fact that he interprets Chopin without imposing his own personality on the music -- and that is rare quality these days. As far as the performance of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is concerned, no praise is necessary -- they are simply one of the best orchestras in the world, and their performance on this CD is up to their usual impeccable standards.

This is a must-have recording. I highly recommend it.