I *was* going to respond to Daniel Kucner's request for a good Chopin
Piano Concerto recording but I found someone that seems to need a lot
more immediate help!:) actually: (
David Stewart writes:
>I just wonder why you would want to bother with these works. I have found
>Chopin to be incapable of sustaining a feeling of direction for any length
>of time so that although his preludes are all little gems of inspiration
>and appreciation of the capabilities of the piano, the concertos are
>entirely unsuccessful.
I realize that everyone has their own particular taste but how can one
completely dismiss the gentle beauties of the middle mov't of the second,
or the unspeakably poignant and poetic sections of the opening mov't of the
first--so effortlessly spun out; just because of a few (easily overlooked)
lapses?
Without getting too dramatic, I couldn't imagine going through life without
having had the pleasure and privilege of hearing such music.
Composers offering such gifts should not be chastised just because the
listener discovers all is not perfect under the hood. Otherwise, why would
anyone buy a Jaguar?
John Smyth