Frederic Chopin: Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Chopin's Second Piano Sonata is one of the most powerful and terrifying pieces of music written in the 19th century. Its funeral march is already famous (you know the tune, even if you don't know that you know it), but what makes the piece so extraordinary is its finale--a 90-second ride through hell that has been described as "the sound of the wind sweeping over a graveyard." Next to this expressionist masterpiece, the Third Sonata sounds rather more conventional, but in Murray Perahia's capable hands, it's no less compelling. A true keyboard poet, Perahia has turned in performances of both sonatas that have long stood as among the finest available. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

I. Grave
II. Scherzo
III. Marche Funebre
IV. Finale: Presto
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Scherzo: Molto Vivace
III. Largo
IV. Finale: Presto, Ma Non Tanto

Amazon.com

Chopin's Second Piano Sonata is one of the most powerful and terrifying pieces of music written in the 19th century. Its funeral march is already famous (you know the tune, even if you don't know that you know it), but what makes the piece so extraordinary is its finale--a 90-second ride through hell that has been described as "the sound of the wind sweeping over a graveyard." Next to this expressionist masterpiece, the Third Sonata sounds rather more conventional, but in Murray Perahia's capable hands, it's no less compelling. A true keyboard poet, Perahia has turned in performances of both sonatas that have long stood as among the finest available. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Perfect!.......2005-03-18

This is one of those few "absolutely perfect" works of art or nature one comes across in one's liftime. It's like Michelangelo's "David" or the best moonrise you've ever seen over a desert mountain. It's shocking, it's so good. It will leave you overwhelmed. I've never heard any other recording of Chopin come anywhere close to being as magic as this. Anyone who can do this kind of sorcery, if only once, should be showered with garlands and their name should be praised for centuries. I always thrill when I discover a friend has never heard this and I can play it for them. Just thinking about the preformance/the recording, actually hurts in a wonderful way--the piano playing is so sublime. I'm filled with longing. That does it! I'm going to finish typing this sentence, get up, turn on my CD player and play this perfect angel of a recording right now!

brilliant, youthful, poetic Chopin from one of the best.......2001-06-10

Perahia has long been one of my favorite pianists, so there is a certain bias to my review. I was somewhat disappointed in his recent Chopin disc (ballades, etc) but nevertheless, I have 4 different recordings of these sonatas (rubinstein, pollini, Ax, and this one), have listened to them all dozens of times, as well as many others, and this is one of the best. Any pianist will tell you that these are among the most technically and musically demanding pieces in the romantic repertoire, and Perahia gets all the power and poetry these pieces require. At the same time, he loses none of the introspection and thoughtfulness. I don't think any pianist has ever played the slow movement of the 3rd sonata with greater tenderness. And in the phenomenal rondo that closes out this piece he just builds momentum like few pianists can do, most peak way too soon, and then have to crash through to the end. The familiar 2nd sonata is also thoughtfully played but lacks nothing in drama, especially the opening movement and the finale. The second movement is full of rhythmic energy and has plenty of brilliante. This is Perahia 20 years younger, but he was great then, as he is now.

Average customer rating:

Piano Sonatas Nos.2 and 3

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000ERJ0C8

Product Description

sonata no.2,op.35("funeral march") 1.grave;doppio movimento.2.scherzo.3.marche funebre:lento.4.presto sonata no.3,op.58 5.allegro maestoso.6.scherzo:molto vivace.7.largo.8.finale:presto,non tanto.9.un sospiro.10.sonetto del petrarca no.123.11.mephisto waltz

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