A markedly more sophisticated treatment of Chopin than his brilliant and frankly shallow treatment of the D flat major (‘Minute’) Waltz, Michalowski’s Study after Chopin’s Impromptu No 1 in A flat major is Godowskyian in its delicate contrapuntal refinement. Triplets in fourths and sixths played vivace and leggiero require a discriminating technique, one which Michalowski himself clearly enjoyed if his few recordings are anything to go by. Polish-born Michalowski, who was acquainted with Chopin’s pupil Mikuli, studied with Moscheles, Reinecke and Tausig, subsequently exercising great influence on succeeding generations. Among his best-known pupils were Wanda Landowska and Mischa Levitzki. Michalowski dedicated the Etude to his fellow countryman, the great pianist Ignace Friedman.
from notes by Jeremy Nicholas © 2001
