Frédéric Chopin: Complete Nocturnes & Préludes - Adam Harasiewicz (1994)

The history of pianists playing Chopin is rich with names such as Horowitz, Askenazy, Pollini, Ohlsson, Rubenstein, Rachmaninoff, Argerich, Pogorelich, Zimmerman, Cortot, and Arrau. And yet one name, usually neglected or forgotten by the classical listener, is Adam Harasiewicz (b.1932). The pianist, legendary in his native country of Poland and across Europe, won the prestigious and lofty First Prize in the 1955 International Chopin Competition, beating both Vladimir Askenazy and Fou Ts'ong - highly regarded pianists themselves. From his victory to the present, Harasiewicz has dedicated his professional career to playing the music of Chopin, even playing before the UN in 1960 to inaugurate the Year of Chopin (the 150th anniversary of the composer's birthday). When first listening to a set of pieces such as the Preludes, or Nocturnes, or even Polonaises, a listener is usually subjected to even tempi, mild individuality, and moderate technique: in short, average performances. Standard renditions of this repertoire deluge the classical market every year, by performers both celebrated and recondite. Harasiewicz far departs from the "usual" recordings, bringing to the music a vision unparalleled in originality, virtuosity, imagination, and erudition. Harasiewicz's playing is difficult to describe. He has the balance of Arrau - both left and right hands are always discernable, every note, every harmony is well displayed. He has the intelligent sensibilities of Askenazy - every note sounds like hours of thought went into it. Musical notions are mature, and well-developed. But he is sonically dangerous like Kissin - his bass ROARS, his treble *~*sparkles*~*, and the whole range in between is well-defined. He is dramatic like Horowitz - he shows a wide field of emotions, from full rage to lugubrious tragedy, from buoyant happiness and unutterable joy, to oppressive melancholy and delicate passion - he displays all and many more. He is the most complete pianist in this sense, for many pianists fall into the trap of applying Chopin's music to their own vision - Argerich is lustful and wildly frantic in each piece, even Nocturnes; but humanity, as Harasiewicz demonstrates, is more than one emotion- it is an entire wealth of them, and he applies his own peerless and flawless technique to the pieces, not the other way around. -

Track list:

Frédéric Chopin
CD1:
-Nocturnes Opp.9, 15, 27, 32, 37, 48 and Op.55 No.1

CD2:
-Nocturnes Op.55 No.2, Opp.62, 72 and Op.posth.
-24 Préludes, Op.28
-Prélude Op.45
-Prélude Op.posth

Adam Harasiewicz, piano
Recorded between 1959 and 1971.
Release: 1994