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Review title: OK, but where is Chopin, where is artistry?
Product review: While this is a respectable and mostly competent recording, it is light years behind such artistic achievements as Ivo Pogorelich (DG) and Mikhail Pletnev (Virgin), just to name a few.There is nothing new in these readings, which makes the CD redundant. The Finale of the great b-flat minor Sonata reminds a Czerny Etude rather than a dry sand storm over the graves. And the Scherzi, while technically assured, bring no musical revelation or innovation. Most of it is simply too loud and fast, and the passage work sounds more like Liszt rather than Chopin. There is little elegance and grace in these performances. Just hear the best recordings of the Sonata and Scherzi and compare. Unfortunately, this EMI release does not stand much of a chance.
