Without a doubt Leopold Godowsky was one of the greatest pianists who ever lived.  However, a musician with great technical and interpretive abilities does not necessarily make a great composer.  The reverse is also true, as it was in the case of the amazing composer but simply average pianist Gustav Mahler.  Unfortunately, for all his pianistic talent, Godowsky didn't really have that extra spark that makes for a great composer.  These studies on Chopin's etudes are undoubtedly some of the most technically difficult pieces ever written for piano, and can be played only by the greatest virtuosos, such as Marc-Andre Hamelin, but they are not the most creative or espressive.  Sadly, when Godowsky "touched up" Chopin's etudes, he somehow lost the lyricism, poetry, and pure emotion that one finds in the originals.  The pianism that Hamelin exhibits in playing these 53 pieces leaves you begging for more Hamelin but the compositions have you yearning for the originals.  These studies, to me, seem like nothing more than interesting exercises based on masterpieces.  They're definitely worth hearing, but they cannot compare with the originals.  Get it to hear Hamelin's amazing pianism not Godowsky's compositional ability. Also don't get these if you expect to hear something Chopin-esque.  Sure, you'll immediately recognize that Chopin was the inspiration for these pieces but you won't really hear the heart of Chopin.