Godowsky: The Complete Studies on Chopin's Études

Godowsky's Studies on Chopin's Etudes have achieved a legendary status among piano enthusiasts. Few areas of the repertoire have such a notorious reputation for technical difficulty and audacious compositional invention. Far from being disrespectful maltreatments of Chopin's masterpieces, Godowsky's elaborations aim to extend the limits of modern piano technique. Some recast Chopin's right-hand passagework for the left hand while introducing new contrapuntal ideas; some treat the originals more freely, inverting, imitating or combining two Etudes; others are character pieces or variations based on Chopin's originals; and twenty-two of the Studies are for the left hand alone. Taken as a whole, these Studies revolutionized piano writing and expanded the polyphonic and polyrhythmic capabilities of the instrument. They remain among the most daunting challenges of the piano literature, their difficulties not always fully apparent to the listener.

Pianists brave enough to tackle this music have often been content merely to get through the notes. Marc-André Hamelin, renowned for his superhuman technical control, injects them with the required range of character, colour and musicianship, as well as breathtaking virtuosity. Uniquely available on 2CDs, this will surely be the benchmark recording for all time.

This set comes with a handsome booklet, including an essay by the Godowsky expert Jeremy Nicholas and individual commentaries by Marc-André Hamelin.

CDA67411/2  152 minutes 30 seconds (2 discs)
GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE
GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER
GRAMOPHONE CRITICS' CHOICE
FANFARE CRITICS' CHOICE
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW CRITICS' CHOICE
RADIO 3, CD REVIEW DISC OF THE MONTH
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE INSTRUMENTAL DISC OF THE MONTH
PENGUIN GUIDE ROSETTE
Top 10 Best Classical-Instrumental CDs of 2000, Amazon.com.
HI-FI NEWS RECORD OF THE MONTH
‘Rarely can such a gargantuan task—truly a labour of Hercules—have been accomplished with such strength, grace and agility, with an ease bordering on nonchalance. It is impossible to think of another ...
‘This is probably the most breathtaking piano recording I’ve ever heard. It’s exceptional, not only for Hamelin’s pianistic perfection—staggering in itself—but also for the sensitivity and tenderness ...
‘Must rate as one of the great piano recordings; a stupendous achievement in terms of technique, musicianship and stamina’ (Classic FM)