- Plays Études by Chopin and Schumann.
Let me tell you about this fine pianist: Clearly, in order to be successful she has to be technically outstanding on her instrument. What’s more, I see in Ms. Lisitsa the ability to express the composer’s emotion as built into his music. And further, she must possess versatility: the ability to play the well-known repertoire, brand new repertoire, and also as a potential accompanist to another player, such as a violinist, or a chamber music group.
In this recording, we hear Ms. Lisitsa perform the following:
Chopin:
- Études (12), Op. 10
- Études (12), Op. 25
Schumann:
- Études symphoniques, Op. 13
Performed by Valentina Lisitsa, piano.
Chopin’s Études were the first to be seen as true concert-level piano works rather than merely piano studies. Quickly becoming a regular part of the concert repertoire, these are some of the most challenging works for the piano.
Robert Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes, believed to be some of the most difficult music for the piano are also featured on this release, including five additional movements restored by Brahms in 1890 after Schumann’s death.
No other artist on a major label has offered this exciting combination of music, totaling 85 minutes of Etudes on one CD.
Here is Chopin’s Etude Op10 No. 1, as performed by Valentina Lisitsa. That’s an excellent vehicles for showing the artist’s technical competence:
And next, here is Valentina in a different role, as accompanist to violinist Hilary Hahn, as they perform together the “Hora Staccato” by Dinicu, as arranged by Heifetz. In this role, the pianist is still very important. Yet now her role is more supportive in providing the accompaniment for the featured violinist:
Tags: Valentina Lisitsa, pianist, Chopin, Schumann, Études symphoniques, Chopin’s Études