Album

Maria-João Pires' Chopin recital is not characterized by super-virtuoso, hyper-emotional playing, but her approach is deeply musical and profoundly expressive. Pires has put together an ingenious program, ranging from Chopin's masterful B minor Piano Sonata to the soulful G minor Cello Sonata, and including the final sets of nocturnes, mazurkas and waltzes, as well as the magnificent Polonaise-Fantaisie in A flat major. Throughout, Pires' playing is exemplary. Her technique is impeccable—nary a note goes awry even in the B minor Sonata's Molto vivace Scherzo—but this is the least of her successes. More important is her balance of the composer's lyrical melodies with his chromatic harmonies, so that the expressivity of the melody is supported and enhanced, but never overshadowed by the intensity of the harmonies. Most important is Pires' uncanny ability to use phrasing and rubato without compromising the underlying rhythmic pulse of the music. The effortlessly flowing C sharp minor Waltz, Op. 64/2, or the achingly beautiful Mazurka in F minor, Op. 68/4, are fine examples of Pires' approach to Chopin. Cellist Pavel Gomziakov's ardent but restrained reading of the Cello Sonata ideally fits with Pires' playing. As always with this pianist, Deutsche Grammophon's sound is transparent and present.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Sonata No.3 in B-, Op.58 Work 32:34 Maria João Pires Piano
1	1.Allegro maestoso	13:42			$2.49
2	2.Scherzo: Molto vivace	2:42			$0.99
3	3.Largo	10:22			$1.99
4	4.Finale: Presto, ma non tanto	5:48			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 2 Nocturnes, Op.62 Work 13:54 Maria João Pires Piano
5	No.1 in B	7:24			$1.49
6	No.2 in E	6:30			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 3 Mazurkas, Op.59 Work 9:38 Maria João Pires Piano
7	No.1 in A-	3:22			$0.99
8	No.2 in Ab	2:41			$0.99
9	No.3 in F#-	3:35			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Polonaise-fantaisie in Ab, Op.61 Work Maria João Pires Piano
1	Polonaise-fantaisie in Ab, Op.61	14:03			$2.49
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 3 Mazurkas, Op.63 Work 6:18 Maria João Pires Piano
2	No.1 in B	2:05			$0.99
3	No.2 in F-	2:08			$0.99
4	No.3 in C#-	2:05			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 3 Waltzes, Op.64 (includes 'Minute Waltz' and famous Waltz in C#-) Work 8:43 Maria João Pires Piano
5	No.1 in Db ('Minute')	1:57			$0.49
6	No.2 in C#-	3:16			$0.99
7	No.3 in Ab	3:30			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 4 Mazurkas, Op.67 Work 4:03 Maria João Pires Piano
8	No.2 in G-	1:37			$0.49
9	No.4 in A-	2:26			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Cello Sonata in G-, Op.65 Work 33:53 Maria João Pires Piano, Pavel Gomziakov Cello
10	1.Allegro moderato	17:10			$2.99
11	2.Scherzo: Allegro con brio	5:35			$0.99
12	3.Largo	3:56			$0.99
13	4.Finale: Allegro	7:12			$1.49
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 4 Mazurkas, Op.68 Work Maria João Pires Piano
14	No.4 in F-	2:31			$0.99