British pianist Solomon's superb April 1, 1946 HMV recording of Chopin's Ballade No.4 in F Minor Op.52. This transfer was effected by Tom Jardine, to whom all thanks, with the side join made by yours truly.
Solomon made about a CD's worth of Chopin recordings in the 78rpm disc era but recorded not a note of the Polish composer's music during the LP era, though he was apparently scheduled to record both Sonatas - a project that sadly fell through when Solomon suffered a debilitating stroke in 1956.
While posthumously he has been more recognized for his readings of Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms than he was for Chopin, Solomon's affinity for his idiom is abundantly clear from the very first note of any of the discs he made of the composer's works, and this glorious reading of the Fourth Ballade is no exception. It is a truly individual interpretation, eschewing any inclination to bombast, restrained but certainly not devoid of emotion, as the climaxes are all the more pronounced when they occur. Solomon's fluid phrasing and gorgeous tonal colours are absolutely mesmerizing.
This remarkably noble conception is a very different approach to this ever-popular work and is truly a landmark recording.
If you wish to support The Piano Files, please consider membership at my Patreon page: / thepianofiles
13 сен 2020
