French pianist Alexandre Tharaud's 2006 recording of Chopin's waltzes seemed a bit wan, but it would be very difficult to say the same of his 2008 recording of Chopin's preludes. Played straight through as an integrated cycle, Tharaud's interpretation is hot blooded and passionate. Though some of his tempos push the envelope -- is the A minor Prélude not a bit too fast and the A major Prélude not much too fast? -- and his phrasing occasionally out of touch with the letter of the score, it is hard not be swept up in ...
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French pianist Alexandre Tharaud's 2006 recording of Chopin's waltzes seemed a bit wan, but it would be very difficult to say the same of his 2008 recording of Chopin's preludes. Played straight through as an integrated cycle, Tharaud's interpretation is hot blooded and passionate. Though some of his tempos push the envelope -- is the A minor Prélude not a bit too fast and the A major Prélude not much too fast? -- and his phrasing occasionally out of touch with the letter of the score, it is hard not be swept up in Tharaud's approach. Tharaud is not content to ride the music's technical challenges to glory. Instead, he infuses each prelude with drama. The inclusion of Chopin's two other preludes and his Trois Nouvelles Études are wonderfully apt additions, and the inclusion of Mompou's Música callada No. 15 (sur le theme du prelude no 4 de Chopin) and Prélude No. 9 and El lago (Le Lac) is thoroughly charming. Recorded in IRCAM in Paris, Harmonia Mundi's sound is transparent and vivid. ~ James...
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