Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy - Chopin: Ballades - Impromtus - Preludes, Op. 28 '2015

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
02. Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38
03. Ballade No. 3 in A- Flat Major, Op. 47
04. Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52
05. Impromptu No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 29
06. Impromptu No. 2 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 36
07. Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major, Op. 51
08. Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66
09. Preludes, Op. 28: I. Prelude in C Major. Agitato
10. Preludes, Op. 28: II. Prelude in A Minor. Lento
11. Preludes, Op. 28: III. Prelude in G Major. Vivace
12. Preludes, Op. 28: IV. Prelude in E Minor. Largo
13. Preludes, Op. 28: V. Prelude in D Major. Allegro molto
14. Preludes, Op. 28: VI. Prelude in B Minor. Lento assai
15. Preludes, Op. 28: VII. Prelude in A Major. Andantino
16. Preludes, Op. 28: VIII. Prelude in F-Sharp Minor. Molto agitato
17. Preludes, Op. 28: IX. Prelude in E Major. Largo
18. Preludes, Op. 28: X. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor. Allegro molto
19. Preludes, Op. 28: XI. Prelude in B Major. Vivace
20. Preludes, Op. 28: XII. Prelude in G-Sharp Minor. Presto
21. Preludes, Op. 28: XIII. Prelude in F-Sharp Major. Lento
22. Preludes, Op. 28: XIV. Prelude in E-Flat Minor. Allegro
23. Preludes, Op. 28: XV. Prelude in D-Flat Major Raindrop. Sostenuto
24. Preludes, Op. 28: XVI. Prelude in B-Flat Minor. Presto con fuoco
25. Preludes, Op. 28: XVII. Prelude in A-Flat Major. Allegretto
26. Preludes, Op. 28: XVIII. Prelude in F Minor. Allegro molto
27. Preludes, Op. 28: XIX. Prelude in E-Flat Major. Vivace
28. Preludes, Op. 28: XX. Prelude in C Minor. Largo
29. Preludes, Op. 28: XXI. Prelude in B-Flat Major. Cantabile
30. Preludes, Op. 28: XXII. Prelude in G Minor. Molto agitato
31. Preludes, Op. 28: XXIII. Prelude in F Major. Moderato
32. Preludes, Op. 28: XXIV. Prelude in D Minor. Allegro appassionato



When Wolfram Schmitt‐Leonardy’s recording of the Preludes was first
released in 2011, critics reached for the superlatives:
‘In his recording of Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy
achieves a fusion of impassioned ardor and classical textual rigor… the
best of Schmitt-Leonardy’s Chopin
adds up to a stimulating and compelling listening journey well worth traveling,
even if you’ve heard these works hundreds of times.’(Jed Distler,
Classics Today). Now the Preludes have been recoupled with new recordings of the
Ballades and
Impromptus, made in January 2015 and also made available within the latest
version of Brilliant Classics’ Chopin Edition (94660). With their more
intricate structures and longer-form narratives, these works also respond to the
sureness of touch and steady pulse that make Schmitt‐Leonardy particularly
acclaimed for his Brahms. Hebuilds the Ballades patiently and with awareness of
the extrovert spirit identified by one of Chopin’s contemporaries as
‘animated by the strangeness of the Romantic world, sung in a melancholy
tone, in a serious style, simple and natural in its expressions.’

This latest release from one of the finest German pianists of his generation is
sure to receive wide critical attention, not only in
his home country but internationally. Schmitt-Leonardy (b.1967) can boast among
his teachers and mentors such luminaries of
the piano world as Ciccolini, Ponti and Weissenberg. Critics such as Peter
Cossé, Ingo Harden, Knut Franke, Jeremy
Siepmann, Gregor Willmes, Ates Orga and others have praised his interpretations
as ‘astonishing, exquisite, electrifying, dazzling brilliant, as well as
grippingly independent’.
He is ‘a virtuoso to the Russian manner born, but with a
Classicist’s sense of proportion, a multi‐hued tonal palette which
abjures only the ugly, and a propulsive rhythmic
vocabulary which keeps you listening every note of the way.’

This 2CD set contains the complete 4 Ballades, Impromptus and the Preludes Op.
28.
The names of these genres were not invented by Chopin, but he gave them a wholly
new, original and personal meaning and content. The Ballades are full bodied
works in a free narrative form, building up the tension and drama from the
contemplative lyrical beginnings to the highly passionate conclusions. The
Impromptus are in free A‐B‐A form, and are a fusion of
the Nocturne and Ballade style. The Preludes Op. 28 are the romantic answer to
Bach’s Preludes, each short piece a gem of refined and distilled
emotions.
Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy is one of the finest German pianists of his generation.
The recording of the Preludes received a 9/9 on Classicstoday, Jed Distler
wrote: “he achieves a fusion of impassioned ardor and classical textual
rigor… the best of Schmitt-Leonardy’s Chopin adds up to a
stimulating and compelling listening journey well worth traveling, even if
you’ve heard these works hundreds of times”. “astonishing,
exquisite, electrifying, dazzling brilliant, as well as grippingly
independent“ (Ates Orga).

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