In the year we are celebrating the bicentenary of Frederic Chopin’s birth it is perhaps apt that a new CD should be released in his honour, although Jonathan Plowright’s work will probably not be the last. This new recording is actually an imaginative compilation by Plowright, who is recognised across the globe as one the UK’s greatest pianists.
In fact the CD as the title suggests is a celebration of Chopin’s work through the work of other composers. Chopin’s work had an extraordinary influence on the way composers wrote for the piano, with many of his contemporaries as well as great writers after Chopin’s era in awe of his work.
There are 29 tracks on this disc with works by some very notable fans of Chopin such as Grieg and Tchaikovsky. A couple of the tracks are variations on some of Chopin’s original work by Busoni and Mompou, whilst other pieces are a clear appreciation of his style and spirit.
Grieg’s Stimmungen, Sir Leonard Berkeley’s Three Mazurkas and Villa-Lobos’ Hommage are three fine examples of the Chopin style reproduced on this CD. These delightful tributes to Chopin’s work also help to highlight Plowright’s huge qualities as a virtuoso.
Chopin died tragically young aged 39 in Paris, but there can be little doubt about the enormous influence he had not just on the piano, but in classical music generally. This 78 minute disc is a wonderful tribute to one of the greatest pianists and composers of the 19th century.
