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Piano Works, Vol.6
FRYDERYK CHOPIN
Quatre Mazurkas, Op.6 (1830-32)
8:55
Dédiées à Mademoiselle la Comtesse Paouline Plater
1.
1
? = 132 - (Scherzando)
3:10
in F sharp minor • in fis-Moll • en fa dièse mineur
2.
2
? = 63 (Sotto voce) - Gajo
2:32
in C sharp minor • in cis-Moll • en ut dièse mineur
3.
3
Vivace
2:01
in E major • in E-Dur • en mi majeur
4.
4
Presto, ma non troppo
1:10
in E flat minor • in es-Moll • en mi bémol mineur
Quatre Mazurkas, Op.24
11:08
Dédiées à Monsieur le Comte de Perthuis
5.
1
Lento - (Con anima)
2:27
in G minor • in g-Moll • en sol mineur
6.
2
Allegro non troppo - [ ] - Tempo I
2:14
in C major - in C-Dur • en ut majeur
7.
3
Moderato con anima
2:03
in A flat major • in As-Dur • en la bémol majeur
8.
4
Moderato - Con anima
4:23
in B flat minor • in b-Moll • en si bémol mineur
Hommage à Mozart, Op.2 (1827)
in C flat major • in B-Dur • en si bémol majeur
Introduction et Grandes Variations Brillantes, sue le Duo favorit de Don Giovanni,
'Là ci darem la mano', pour le Piano Forte
Dédiées à Monsieur Charles Czerny
Originally for Piano and Orchestra
Arranged by the Composer for Solo Piano
('Là ci darem la mano' varié pour piano)
À Monsieur Titus Woyciechowski
9.
Introduzione. Largo - Poco più mosso -
5:03
10.
Tema. Allegretto -
1:28
11.
Variazione I. Brillante -
0:57
12.
Variazione II. Veloce, ma accuratamente -
0:59
13.
Variazione III. Sempre sostenuto -
0:59
14.
Variazione IV. Con bravura -
1:13
15.
Variazione V. Adagio -
3:08
16.
Alla Polacca
3:38
Quatre Mazurkas, Op.67 post. (c.1835, 1848-49, 1835, 1847)
8:00
17.
1
Vivace - (Scherzando)
1:17
in G major • in G-Dur • en sol majeur
18.
2
Cantabile
1:54
in G minor • in g-Moll • en sol mineur
19.
3
Allegretto
1:32
in C major • in C-Dur • en ut majeur
20.
4
Moderato animato
3:15
in A minor • in a-Moll • en la mineur
Deux Polonaises, Op.40 (1838-39)
14:20
Dédiées à Monsieur Jules Fontana
21.
1
'Military'. Allegro con brio
5:47
in A major • in A-Dur • en la majeur
22.
2
Allegro maestoso
8:32
in C minor • in c-Moll • en ut mineur
Quatre Mazurkas, Op.41 (1838-39)
9:11
Dédiées à son Ami Étienne Witwicki
23.
1
Andantino
2:15
in E minor • in e-Moll • en mi mineur
24.
2
Animato
1:24
in B major • in H-Dur • en si majeur
25.
3
Allegretto
2:12
in A flat major • in As-Dur • en la bémol majeur
26.
4
Maestoso
3:20
in C sharp minor • in cis-Moll • en ut dièse mineur
27.
Fantaisie, Op.49 (1841)
13:31
in F minor / A flat major • in f-Moll / As-Dur • en fa mineur / la bémol majeur
Dédiée à Madame la Princesse Catherine de Souzzo
Marcia. Grave - Lento, sostenuto - Tempo I - Più mosso -
Adagio sostenuto - Allegro assai
Total time: 82:24
Solo:Louis Lortie piano
Notes
For the sixth volume of his Chopin project, the Canadian pianist and exclusive Chandos Artist Louis Lortie has built a programme that includes works from the earliest to the latest periods in the composer’s life, all of which have connection with or focus on Chopin’s Polish identity.
The Hommage à Mozart, Op. 2 is a brilliant set of variations on ‘Là ci darem la mano’ from Don Giovanni. Chopin composed it originally for piano and orchestra, in 1827, when he was just seventeen, and later made this arrangement for solo piano (a common practise at the time).
The two Polonaises, Op. 40 date from the late 1830s, and contain some of his most openly nationalistic writing. The first – nicknamed ‘Military’ – evokes sentiments of national identity and pride, whilst the second, more melancholy work portrays feelings evoked by Poland’s vanished statehood. Lortie concludes the album with Chopin’s Fantaisie, Op. 49, from 1841. This work exemplifies the brilliant improvisatory style of Chopin’s writing for piano.
These works are interspersed with four sets of Mazurkas, Opp. 6, 24, 41, and 67. Chopin almost single-handedly introduced the Mazurka to Paris when he arrived there in the late 1820s, and continued to compose them throughout his life, transforming the Polish dance form into some of his most dazzling and memorable compositions.
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Reviews
“… This sixth volume is superb … this volume is indisputably a keeper.”
Myron Silberstein – Fanfare – May/June 2021
“…When considering Chopin, contrast between dark and light is essential. Lortie excels at the conveyance of Slavic expression through the lens of extreme sentiment, often using fine-tuned pacing, silence and varied dynamics to admirable effect. Of unexpected delight is the “Military” Polonaise, Op.40 No 1… Lortie offers it up with unabashed affection and aristocratic poise. Arguably saving best for last, the Fantasy in F Minor, Op.49 concludes the album, highlighting the attributes for which Lortie is celebrated. Lucid and buoyant, it is music sculpted with chiselled lines and acute structural sense. At moments on this disc, a seasoned sort of beauty takes hold of our ears, wherein a keyboard’s conjuring casts an airy, aural spell. In the battle of dark and light, Lortie’s own brand of luminescence wins out every time.”
Adam Sherkin – thewholenote.com – 18 March 2021
“… Lortie has a keen awareness of Chopin’s musical journey and increasing sophistication. The solo piano version o the Op. 2 Hommage à Mozart is a delight, while the deliciously dark C minor Polonaise Op 40/1 holds sudden chords that register as cries of pain. A fine disc.”
Colin Clarke – International Piano – January/February 2021
Performance **** Recording ****
“Louis Lortie has long been celebrated as a versatile pianist, but his thoughtful approach to Chopin stands out…”
John Allison – BBC Music magazine – January 2021
“A decade after the start of his Chopin series, for its sixth volume Louis Lortie offers another carefully arranged bouquet, this time dominated by the gentle fragrance of mazurkas... on balance this disc is distinguished by the humanistic, selfless music-making, devoid of sentimentality, for which Lortie’s Chopin has justly been praised.”
Michelle Assay – Gramophone magazine – December 2020
“… This performance is an impressive showing from Lortie, who blends an airy Mozartean texture with Chopin’s sparkling virtuosity… this is a solid recording. The liner notes also provide helpful background information for each work… in Lortie’s continued journey through the composer’s works, his sincerity and dedication are never in doubt.”
Azusa Uneo – theclassicreview.com – 17 November 2020
“… As we can see, the pianist continues to mix the types of scores in his journey. Another constant: the sound with a Fazioli piano recorded at Potton Hall in Dunwich, Suffolk. The choice is not anecdotal, because the brilliance of this instrument gives a limpid tone to the record…” ****
Christophe Huss – Le Devoir (Montreal) – 13 November 2020
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