Best interpreter of Chopin

[jaybee]

So, looking to increase my Chopin collection....

Looking at the moment at maybe

Arrau
Ashkenazy
Pollini
Kissin

I have examples by

Benedetti Michaelangeli (not mad on this but the recording is poor)
Lympnay
Argerich
Frager

From what I hear the Arrau performances from the early seventies were spectacular (and are available on pentatone quite reasonably), perhaps old age adds a touch of impending doom!


Does anyone have any experiences with any of these, or other must have performances....

Was thinking I might start off with the preludes?

JB

[fergus]

If I were looking in that direction, and I am not, I certainly would be strongly considering having Pollini in my collection.

[Seán]

I love Rubenstein and then Pollini, I'm not too keen on Horowitz.



My apologies, I meant to write Ashkenazy (playing Chopin) rather than Horowitz, Horowitz is okay, Rubenstein is marvellous.

[Jose Echenique]

Even though he recorded too little because of his premature death, Dinu Lipatti can´t be overlooked.

[Jared]

Even though he recorded too little because of his premature death, Dinu Lipatti can´t be overlooked.

absolutely. His Waltzes, especially... chek out the price.. ;-)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chopin-Piano-Wo ... 371&sr=8-9

[Ciaran]

Maurizio Pollini, or Muiris Ó Póilín, as we like to call him in this Celtic Isle!

[Jared]

Argerich & Pires would be my personal choices based on knowledge, but I also like the recent recordings by Argerich's pupil, Ingrid Fliter:

[Seán]

I quite like this too:

[Seán]

Even though he recorded too little because of his premature death, Dinu Lipatti can´t be overlooked.

He has languished in my Amazon basket for too long now, I must take the plunge.

[bombasticDarren]

Murray Perahia for me. Here's my evidence...



I also like Pollini and Argerich. Of the more vintage artists I am partial to Rubinstein and Lipatti.