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Topic: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades  (Read 3006 times)

Offline ravelfan07

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Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
on: December 19, 2023, 01:10:31 AM
What do you guys think of Krystian Zimerman‘s recordings of Chopin’s 4 ballades?
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Offline transitional

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Re: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
Reply #1 on: December 19, 2023, 03:39:09 AM
Very good. They're my #1 listening source for the Chopin ballades, mainly because they're high up on Google search and I can't stand Rousseau. He plays them the "normal" way, nothing special, but that in itself is a good thing.
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Offline perfect_pitch

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Re: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
Reply #2 on: December 19, 2023, 04:18:22 AM
I think like Pollini's playing of the Chopin Etudes, Zimermans playing of the Ballades is seen as one of the best collections of playing.

I also, personally like Zimerman. No silly flourishes or zany mood swings... just the music.
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Offline mjames

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Re: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
Reply #3 on: December 22, 2023, 01:27:56 PM
I like them, pretty good. Actually very good. However, my one issue with him is that he's very "textbook", pretty much the dream pianist for your typical jury at a competition. Nothing wrong with that, his playing is still quite impactful and emotional for me. But players like Argerich or Horowitz will always be a step above me due to their uniqueness.

Even though I've praised the recording, take note that they're heavily edited through splicing (as in, one recording of a piece isn't just one take but a collection of takes edited into one). So the "textbook perfection" Zimerman displays isn't quite achievable as we'd like to believe. I much prefer the rawness of live recordings.
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Offline perfect_pitch

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Re: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
Reply #4 on: December 22, 2023, 10:29:42 PM
Quote from: mjames on December 22, 2023, 01:27:56 PM
Even though I've praised the recording, take note that they're heavily edited through splicing (as in, one recording of a piece isn't just one take but a collection of takes edited into one). So the "textbook perfection" Zimerman displays isn't quite achievable as we'd like to believe.

Glenn Gould has done it for years...
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Offline ravelfan07

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Re: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
Reply #5 on: December 23, 2023, 08:50:21 PM
Quote from: transitional on December 19, 2023, 03:39:09 AM
Very good. They're my #1 listening source for the Chopin ballades, mainly because they're high up on Google search and I can't stand Rousseau. He plays them the "normal" way, nothing special, but that in itself is a good thing.
Rousseau isn’t that bad imo, he did great with Ballade no 1 and good with Ballade no 4
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Offline pianistavt

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Re: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
Reply #6 on: December 28, 2023, 02:22:15 PM
I hold Zimmerman's recording of the set in high esteem.  His tone-dynamics-phrasing is beyond masterful.  Yet somehow I felt he was being too careful, too perfect - they're missing something visceral.

Many people talk about the best performance of the 4th ballade, and Richter comes up.  Personally, I think Kissin's is the best I've heard.  Not sure if he has recorded all 4.

I heard someone playing a Chopin Waltz on the radio last week, and I was in awe - the interpretation was on another level - somehow she/he captured a Polish essence that I've rarely if ever heard.  It was Garrick Ohlson.  Searching on YT I only see Ballade 1, shame he didn't record all 4.
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Offline galante

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Re: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
Reply #7 on: December 30, 2023, 09:02:14 AM
Quote from: ravelfan07 on December 23, 2023, 08:50:21 PM
Rousseau isn’t that bad imo, he did great with Ballade no 1 and good with Ballade no 4

Yeah, you could say that, but to be honest, for me, Rosseau is like the synthetic type of classical music; he has some emotion, but it still lacks a lot to be able to be justified as a good piano player. Its much better to stick with recordings made by real (Rosseau is real, but I mean actual) professional pianists. For those who want some tips on the Ballade by Krystian Zimerman himself, there is a masterclass of him talking about the Ballade:

Anyway, to sum it all up, stay away from Rousseau. Its much better to listen to professional pianists playing the G minor Ballade.
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Offline ravelfan07

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Re: Krystian Zimerman, Chopin 4 ballades
Reply #8 on: January 02, 2024, 05:38:46 PM
Quote from: galante on December 30, 2023, 09:02:14 AM
Yeah, you could say that, but to be honest, for me, Rosseau is like the synthetic type of classical music; he has some emotion, but it still lacks a lot to be able to be justified as a good piano player. Its much better to stick with recordings made by real (Rosseau is real, but I mean actual) professional pianists. For those who want some tips on the Ballade by Krystian Zimerman himself, there is a masterclass of him talking about the Ballade:

Anyway, to sum it all up, stay away from Rousseau. Its much better to listen to professional pianists playing the G minor Ballade.
Thanks for the link! Also I agree with the 1st Ballade part but I still think Rousseau adds a lot of emotion but definitely not to the extent that professional pianists do.
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New Piano Piece by Chopin Discovered – Free Piano Score
A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music. Read more
 

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