Track Listing

1. 12 Etudes, Op. 10
2. 12 Etudes, Op. 25

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47862 in Music
• Released on: 2002-09-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds
• Running time: 56 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Through channelling his intelligent virtuosity toward musical ends, Murray Perahia reveals the distinctive voice of each Chopin Étude, rather than imposing a "one style fits all" aesthetic upon the music. His easy mastery of the right-hand double-note challenges of Op. 10 No. 7 and Op. 25 Nos. 6 & 8 and the taxing rotary patterns of the famous "Black Key" and "Winter Wind" études enable him to clarify their significant left-hand component. Note, too, the "Octave" étude's long-lined ebb and flow, or a sharper, more aggressive C-sharp Minor, Op. 10 No. 4, than the one Perahia recorded in the early 1990s. But his unusually brisk take on the E-flat minor (Op. 10 No. 6) trivialises the music's aching harmonic tension, and the two C Minor Études (including the "Revolutionary") are a shade inhibited compared with the unbridled bravura of the versions by György Cziffra (Philips) and Juana Zayas (Music & Arts). These quibbles, however, should not prevent piano lovers from experiencing Perahia's well-considered and superbly engineered interpretations of the oft-recorded masterpieces. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews

Stunning virtuosity
Murray Perahia is a pianist who has refused to stand still in a quest to deliver definitve recordings of the greatest piano works. His recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations met with universal acclaim. This recording of Chopin's Etudes reaches the same giddy heights.

Chopin's Etudes are a combination of virtuosity and lyricism. In these works Chopin pushes piano technique to the limit and it is no wonder that Liszt adored these pieces (and it's said that he sight read them) and had them in his repertoire inside a day. Perahia brings to the table a phenomenal technique and an astonishing level of understanding of the soul of Chopin. Yes, the first etude is thrown off with frightening elan - but Perahia also manages to bring to the forefront Chopin's underlying melody. And listen to the A flat etude, No 1 of the Op 25 set - here is a work of remarkable beauty but in which the harmony is formed by a myriad of arpeggiated notes. The challenge is to allow the melody to sing out from the forest of notes which form the harmonic background. And Perahia rises to the challenge like no other pianist I have listened to.

There are other great recordings of the Etudes - Pollini and Ashkenazy are both well worth having. But for musical understanding and first rate sound I believe this is now the market leader. Anyone with a passing interest in the art of the pianist will derive great joy from this work. Guaranteed.

Brilliant
It takes guts to attempt the Études; as any pianist will tell you they are horrifically difficult to play. Even the great Horowitz is rumoured to have refused to play Op. 10 No. 1 live because he found it too daunting. You can understand why! Two minutes of very high-speed yo-yoing arpeggios. And yet such is Perahia's command of the instrument that never once does he sound out of control. What a joy it is to listen to this wonderful musician who, at the peak of his incredible abilities, seems to gild every piece he plays with his unique hue of gold.

Brilliant.

Brilliant!
This recording is perfect:

1. The recording is of an excellent, crisp sound quality.

2. The artist- Murray Perahia is brilliant in his own right. He is a very talented pianist who plays the etudes inspirationally.

3. The etudes themselves are incredibly difficult, and at the same time very enjoyable pieces to listen to. There are 24 of the 27 that Chopin wrote on this CD.

This CD, despite being quite pricey is one of the best CDs I have. It is a must for a Chopin fan.