Frederic Chopin: Etudes Op.10 & Op.25 - Maurizio Pollini, 1960
After Maurizio Pollini won the Warsaw International Chopin Competition in 1960 at the age of 19, he signed with EMI and recorded outstanding Chopin's 1st PC. It was followed by Abbey Road sessions in which Pollini recorded his first-ever set of all 24 of Chopin's Etudes. This was playing of the exquisite kind but Pollini refused to allow this recordings to be released without giving any specific reason. Years later terminating with EMI, Pollini recorded the Etudes under Deutsche Grammophon. This later DG sessions was an exellent performance, but made by the completely different pianist - previous Pollini mysteriously gone. In 2011 the Testament label has been able to remaster and release EMI unissued but superb tapes. There's a freshness about Pollini's 1960 playing coupled with exceptional talent and technique.
Yesterday I saw at the Odeon blog post with the DG version of the Studies, so there is the chance to compare both of these.
9 comments:
http://www.embedupload.com/?d=1KAGK2RZG5
P.W : iceshoweronfire
Excellent post, many many thanks.
At the competition and immediately after, Pollini was a very fiery pianist (although he still had complete control of the technical side of the music). As you say, he changed very much in his middle and later years, becoming very cool and detached.
I have a Polish LP of him playing the complete Preludes, recorded (I think - it doesn't say on the cover, but the background noise suggests so) in concert right after the competition. It is also completely different from the later DG recording.
I believe this LP is a treasure ) ...It's absurd but I'm waiting for the next completion, still expecting a new miracle ))
You mean the Chopin Competition?
You've got to believe :-) but I don't really expect miracles any more. The world and perception of music have changed too much...
I unfortunately don't have a way of ripping LPs because my amplifier does not have recording inputs (only outputs) and I cannot obviously connect the record player directly to the computer.
Awesome! I'd always heard that his earlier performances were still technical, but with the warmth lacking in the later performances. Thanks for this opportunity to hear these.
Thank you sooo much for this v4v, I had it on my short list of 'wanted' CDs for quite a while. I generally find Pollini way too cool for my tastes but expected this early recording to differ, after hearing ONE 'not so early' recording where he sounded very different and wonderful (the Schumann Symphonische Etuden on DG 1984).
Thanks again, can't wait and will compare with Odeon's ! Tamia
Mille Merci pour cette version. Comme toujours, ce blog est un vrai trésor!!!
Direct links:
http://uptobox.com/yvrrj9iou0d6
http://n11zh8.1fichier.com/
PW: iceshoweronfire
Could you reupload it? Thanks
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