Lise de la Salle
It has been a long time since I wrote about this French pianist. I bet she has 20 years of experience now; and I always liked her playing. Why? I find that her playing has a level of emotion and passion that I find exciting.
This recording starts with Chopin’s four ballades for solo piano and it also includes the 2nd Piano Concerto, performed with one of the best orchestras of the time, the Staatskapelle Dresden, led by its principal conductor Fabio Luisi.
I created a Spotify playlist called “Hank’s de la Salle” with 7 audio selections of works by Schubert, Chopin, Bach, and Mozart, all performed by Lise de la Salle. These selections – in my view — show how excellent Ms. de la Salle really is.
Now back to this recording: As I experienced before, Ms. de la Salle’s playing presents a sense of emotion and depth of feeling that is excellent.
- Ballade No. 1 is tenderly and beautifully played yet forceful and decisive elsewhere.
- Ballade No. 2 is energetic, ending on a sad note.
- Ballade No. 3 is peaceful and becomes more authoritative before a sense of calm returns.
- Finally, Ballade No. 4 is again powerfully played, forceful and authoritative.
As for Piano Concerto No. 2, it is beautifully played, and Fabio Luisi does a marvelous job balancing the musical needs of Ms. de la Salle and the Staatskapelle Dresden.
Chopin’s piano writing is always so lyrical, and the other instruments dance around it and interact with it. The 2nd movement is warm, occasionally tentative, and confident. The 3rd and final movement starts with sweeping notes running across the keyboard, and finishes with the piano playing the part of playful child, and the orchestra accompanying with proud, singing music.
Here is a video of Lise de la Salle, playing the first movement from Piano Sonata No.26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux” by Ludwig van Beethoven.
http://youtu.be/4btifdxWnbg
And next, here is Lise de la Salle, playing the music of Mozart and Prokofiev:
Tags: Lise de la Salle, Chopin, Spotify