Mompou Archive

CHOPIN: “Evocations” = Piano Concertos; Rondo for 2 pianos; “Fantasie Impromptu”; Chopin-inspired works by SCHUMANN, BARBER, TCHAIKOVSKY, MOMPOU – Daniil Trifonov/ Sergei Babayan/ Mahler Chamber Orch./ Mikhail Pletnev – DGG 

by Audiophile Audition | Nov 19, 2017 | Classical CD Reviews

CHOPIN: Evocations = Piano Concerto No. 2 in f minor, Op. 21; Piano Concerto No. 1 in e minor, Op. 11; Variations on “La ci darem la mano,” Op. 2; Rondo in C Major for 2 Pianos, Op. 73; Impromptu No. 4 in c-sharp minor, Op. 66 “Fantasie-Impromptu”; SCHUMANN: “Chopin” from Carnaval, Op. 9; GRIEG: Study “Hommage a Chopin”; BARBER: Nocturne, Op. 33; TCHAIKOVSKY: Un poco di Chopin, Op. 72, No. 15; MOMPOU: Variations on a Theme of Chopin – Daniil Trifonov, piano/ Sergei Babayan, piano (Op. 73)/ Mahler Chamber Orchestra/ Mikhail Pletnev – DGG 479 7518 (2 CDs) 62:18; 77:43 (10/6/17)  [Distr. by Universal] *****:  An elegant love-letter or postcard to Chopin, in new arrangements and signed by several admirers. Purists beware: pianist-conductor Mikhail Pletnev has re-orchestrated the two Chopin piano concertos, attempting to establish “more of an equality of participation” between the forces. Some will recall that Alfred Cortot made his own adjustments to Chopin’s original almost a century ago. Pianist Daniil Trifonov has supplemented the exclusively Chopin pieces with creative “responses” to his work from other composers of various nationalities, those who appreciate “the essence of the Chopin character: his evocative, personal intimacy. The 1957 Mompou piece […]