Chopin's Études are not merely technical exercises; they are considered 'concert studies' that explore original expressive worlds and possess a new dignity.
Interpretation
Chopin's rubato, a flexible approach to tempo, is very challenging for performers, requiring them to maintain rhythmic balance within a solid structural framework.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in two distinct sessions: the Études Op.25 in January 2020, just before the pandemic, and the four Scherzi in February 2021.
Performer Biography
Beatrice Rana, the pianist on this album, first recorded Chopin's Preludes at age 18 after winning the Montréal International Musical Competition.
Compositional Technique
Chopin's Scherzi feature a 'fertile repetition' where the same passage is repeated with subtle differences, constantly transforming its meaning rather than being sterile.
Composer Biography
Chopin's Second Scherzo was composed during a period of ill health and personal tension while he was living in Majorca with George Sand, experiencing dark hallucinations.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Chopin was a revolutionary in piano writing, harmony, and composition form, shaping piano technique around his own hands and infusing it with the Italian vocal tradition.
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Chopin: The 4 Scherzi; Prelude, Op. 45; Barcarolle, Op. 60
