Unexpected depth, a great musical talent

There are many (too many?) Young pianists and almost all are able to record a passable Chopin CD. Yet Sophie Pacini is particularly outstanding: not because of a technical key wizardry one would expect of course in a young pianist, but because of the emotional depth of their game, the tender poetics; but without any qualification in technical skill.

If you want to test this recording: You must not listen as the first work, the F minor Ballade No. 4. There are countless recordings of this work - but only a few performers have really perceived as a ballad rather than pianistic challenge..

This ballad seemed so far the weakest of Chopin ballads before but now I have to revise my opinion: To play it is one of most outstanding work of Chopin. I hear this work in this recording from scratch - even great pianists like Pollini have it not so well understood as here. A ballad is a nuanced, sophisticated story and which will be implemented here masterfully, with subtle changes of tempo and full utilization of the dynamic potential (according to how quiet) of both the wing and the artist.

Here Sophie Pacini can her formidable to present without the music suffers, like many others. Their technique is above suspicion, but never stands in the foreground. (For other young talents you think more like circus artists than musicians: Music does not understand one fact that you have to practice eight hours a day from the age of five, since it is rather an infallible key machine ...)

Yet doubts about the Qualittät this recording? As a second plant followed by a recording of the tender in E flat major Nocturne, an equally successful presentation. With me possible residual doubts were dispelled final.

A strong buy recommendation, even if you have many of these works in other recordings. By Sophie Pacini we will hear a lot.