Mention has been made of Lipatti's performance of these waltzes. What some
may not know is that there are two recordings of Lipatti playing them, both
incandescent.
One is of the fourteen waltzes that are usually played in this cycle.
(Actually, there are several more: Cyprien Katsaris plays 19 Chopin
waltzes on a Teldec CD.) There is also a recording of Lipatti's last
recital (shortly befor his all too early death from leukemia) at Besancon,
where he played thirteen of the usually played fourteen waltzes, not having
the strength to play the remaining one. Both Lipatti performances are on
EMI and, finances permitting, a lover of the music should have both.
Walter Meyer