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Monthly Archive: September 2023

Robert Lortat – The Complete Chopin Recordings – APR

Robert Lortat – The Complete Chopin Recordings – APR

by | Sep 21, 2023 | Classical CD Reviews, Classical Reissue Reviews

Robert Lortat: CHOPIN: The Complete Recordings = 24 Préludes, Op. 28; 14 Waltzes; 12 Études, Op. 10; 12 Études, Op. 25; Trois Nouvelles Études; Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op 35 “Funeral March” – Robert Lortat, piano – APR 6042 (2 CDs: 2:23) [Distr. by Naxos] **** The Paris Conservatory proudly boasts of 150 years in the development of a select school of keyboard artists, among whom Robert Lortat (1885-1938) occupies a limited but distinct pride of place. Lortat’s repute endures because of his association with the music of two composers, Chopin and Fauré. The Paris school emphasized brilliantly clean finger work, economy of pedal effects, and a light transparency of piano sound produced by the fingers and wrists rather than by the arms and shoulders. Lortat will apply rubato and subtle portamento when he sees fit, but he always maintains a direct and elegant sense of line. As early as 1912 Lortat performed the complete Chopin oeuvre from memory in concert. He recorded the Chopin works – his only recorded documents – between 1928 and 1931, here restored from shellacs to correct pitch by Mark Obert-Thorn. We note Lortat’s premature death at age 52, the result of […]