Chopin, F.: Etudes (Zayas) (1983 and 2005 Recordings)

Featuring

Juana Zayas
Frédéric Chopin

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Critical Reception

The conservative critic Ludwig Rellstab warned pianists against Chopin's études, claiming they would only be useful for players with 'deformed fingers' due to their technical difficulty.

Performer Biography

Legendary 20th-century pianist Arthur Rubinstein, a Chopin specialist, never recorded all of Chopin's études and avoided performing them completely in concert.

Compositional Technique

Chopin's études do not cover the entire tonal spectrum, an idiosyncratic decision, instead privileging certain keys and omitting nine tonalities altogether.

Recording & Production

This album features two recordings of Chopin's Études by Juana Zayas, one from 1983 and a newer one from 2005, allowing for comparison of her evolving interpretation.

Interpretation

The second recording of the Études by Juana Zayas is generally slower, allowing for a deeper exploration of inner voices and rhythmic details, reflecting a more 'interior' approach.

Composition History

Chopin wrote his Trois nouvelles études at the request of his colleague Ignaz Moscheles, a composer-pianist, for a teaching anthology.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Chopin's études are unique because they combine the technical demands of a practice piece with the poetic artistry of an Early Romantic character piece.