Many of the pieces on this album, including the Chopin sonata and the Vivaldi-Bach concerto, are 'remakes' of earlier RCA sessions that failed due to 'system noise'.
Interpretation
Brailowsky considered himself a highly instinctive pianist, stating that he did not have a 'cut-and-dried manner of playing' and believed in spontaneous feeling and inspiration.
Performer Biography
Brailowsky was known for his 'Chopin marathon' performances, where he presented Chopin's complete piano works in a series of six weekly concerts, first in Paris in 1924.
Performer Biography
Alexander Brailowsky, the pianist on this recording, made a sensational Paris debut in 1919, establishing him as a leading pianist in France.
Recording & Production
Fred Gaisberg, who produced these sessions, noted in his autobiography that Brailowsky's recording achievement was unique, with not one of his thirty-odd sides needing to be repeated due to a smudged or false note.
Composer's Artistic Vision
For Brailowsky, Frédéric Chopin was 'the greatest composer for the piano,' whose music contained 'more poetry, more idealism' than any other.
Recording & Production
These London HMV recordings were made in just two days in November 1938, during a busy European tour, with Brailowsky cancelling lucrative engagements to record.
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