Vladimir Ashkernazy
A lot of people say that Zimerman´s is the best ever.
i agree wholeheartedly. i have a video of him playing all 4, and i can say its one of teh best videos i have.
https://dacomme.dasdc.net/bal3.mp3the bal 4 is harder to find...maybe someone else can provide
SOOOOOO restrained.
zimerman is the best chopin interpreter ever. i could care less if im restrained. hes an awesome pianist in all aspects.
Not you. Him.
he doesnt seem restrained to me. he seems so at ease at the piano. he is also very sensitive and emotional in both his playing and expressions. but thats just my opinion.
Yes he is an amazing pianist. I am only talking about the ballades. While they are great, i do just find them to restrained to consider them my favourites.
but his restrictions are quite painful to me.
I know exeactly how you feel. Painfull is the right word. Seriously it hurts(no kiddin). I am waiting for him to unleash but he never unleashes.
he seriously unleashes in his other works though. jsut watch his chopin scherzo in b flat min vid. now THATS some furious sheet. i have to admit, his ballades arent his best performances.
I won't say no to the others, I like Ashkenazy, Rubinstein, Richter etc etc but I really dislike Horowitz'
Yeah, Horowitz appeared very heavy handed with these pieces to me. I didnt like his recordings at all.SJ
Samson Francois
Many good choices here! You guys have good taste.Ambivalence: Zimerman. He gets talked up quite a lot, but I just don't hear anything truly 'great' in his performances. It's all fine playing but nothing extraordinary imho. Versions I dislike: Kissin. I can't articulate just how much I dislike his playing here. The opening of the first sounds like a joke. I think he completely missed the point in the Third. Don't get me wrong, he has made some great recordings, but these were not at all to my taste.
Anyone heard Stephen Hough's recording of the Ballades paired with the Scherzos?WONDERFUL!