Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.

Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.

Click cover art to view larger version
Track(s) taken from CDH55181

Scherzo No 3 in C sharp minor, Op 39

composer
1839, begun in Majorca, completed in Nohant; dedicated to Adolf Gutmann

Nikolai Demidenko (piano)
Recording details: May 1990
Snape Maltings, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Produced by Ates Orga
Engineered by Ken Blair & Simon Kiln
Release date: October 1991
Total duration: 7 minutes 41 seconds
 

Other recordings available for download

Stephen Hough (piano)
Garrick Ohlsson (piano)
James Rhodes (piano)

Reviews

‘These works require the utmost in panache and glitter, Demidenko's scintillating fingers provide that in spades’ (Gramophone)

‘Demidenko is one of the most outstanding modern Chopin players … as usual, Demidenko's superb technique is plainly at the service of the music, and he produces a breathtaking sense of mometum’ (International Record Review)
Dissonance is again at the heart of the Third Scherzo, and even today the opening octaves can seem harshly novel and uncompromising. The principle theme was inspired by Adolf Gutmann, Chopin’s pupil who could – with a taste of karate – apparently punch a hole in a table. The contrasting chorale with its cascading reply may well echo a liturgical chant heard at the monastery in Valdemosa (where Chopin was a guest in 1842) and its final transformation and expansion in the coda is among Chopin’s most daring masterstrokes.

from notes by Bryce Morrison © 2004

La dissonance est à nouveau au cœur du Troisième Scherzo, et même de nos jours, les octaves initiales donnent l’impression d’une nouveauté dure et intransigeante. Le thème principal s’est inspiré d’Adolf Gutmann, un élève de Chopin qui parvenait apparemment à transpercer le bois des tables à main nue – un avant-goût du karaté. Le choral contrasté, avec ses réponses en cascades, pourrait être un écho d’un chant liturgique entendu au monastère de Valdemosa (où Chopin avait séjourné en 1842). Ses transformations et expansions finales dans la coda font partie des coups de génie les plus audacieux de Chopin.

extrait des notes rédigées par Bryce Morrison © 2004
Français: Isabelle Battioni

Die Dissonanzen spielen auch im Dritten Scherzo eine zentrale Rolle und auch heute können die Oktaven am Anfang des Stückes noch schroff, modern und unerbittlich klingen. Die Inspiration zu dem Hauptthema lieferte Adolf Gutmann, ein Schüler Chopins, der anscheinend – in Vorwegnahme von Karate – ein Loch in einen Tisch hauen konnte. Der kontrastierend angelegte Choral mit einer abwärts gerichteten Antwort könnte eine Nachahmung des liturgischen Gesangs sein, den Chopin 1842 in einem Kloster in Valdemosa zu hören bekam, und seine letzte Verwandlung und Ausdehnung in die Coda hinein gehört zu den kühnsten Meisterleistungen Chopins.

aus dem Begleittext von Bryce Morrison © 2004
Deutsch: Viola Scheffel

Other albums featuring this work

Chopin & Bach: Vitamin C
Studio Master: SIGCD851Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
Chopin: Four Ballades & Four Scherzos
Studio Master: CDA67456Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
Chopin: The Complete Works
CDS44351/6616CDs Boxed set (at a special price) — Download only
Waiting for content to load...
Waiting for content to load...