© Protected - Classical Music in Poland and the Europe of Chopin - Reviewer's Notebook

Fryderyk Chopin [1 March 1810 Żelzowa Wola, Poland - 17 October 1849, Paris] F or a fascinating detailed examination in English of the originally disputed date of his birth  http://en.chopin.nifc.pl/chopin/life/biography/page/2 The Dworek where Chopin was born at Żelzowa Wola Tomasz Ritter Throughout this recital he played an Erard from 1838 from the NIFC collection.. He ambitiously opened with the Ballade No.4 in F minor. His opening of the narrative was convincing and confident with much transparent polyphony and colour of sound.  He showed affecting, passionate lyricim and the overtones of the period instrument gave a warm watercolour diffuseness to the soundscape in pianissimo performance. His rubato was emotional yet I still felt a certain diminishment of poetry and sensibility. There were inspiring elements of chiaroscuro sound, colour and a fine balance of the 'registers' of period pianos was preserved. The Etu...