Rafal Blechacz --Chopin preludes

Rafal Blechacz
Chopin: Preludes OP.28, Op. Posth., Op.45 and Nocturnes Op.62

8.5 (music) / 9 (sound)



Admittedly, the CD cover was well photoshop-ed, and Blechacz pale complexion and lean built suits the perceived image of Chopin (whose chronic pulmonary TB no doubt caused significant weight loss and chronic disease anemia).

As the new winner of the Chopin Piano Competition 2005, and the 2nd Polish (after K. Zimerman in 1975) to win this esteemed prize, Deutsche Grammophone was quick to have him under its wings. The debut recording, needless to say, is an all-Chopin programme.

Preludes Op.28 had always been a difficult work to manage, both as a pianist or as a listener. Its a enormous petite work, almost like a bag of M&Ms of 24 flavours (except without the melamine). Blechacz rendering of them betrayed little of his young age, yet there is still some distance between the complete masterly playing of say Claudio Arrau or the rather eccentric Sokolov performance. Nonetheless, Blechacz positively displayed what he is capable of in terms of colour control, brilliance articulation, poetic phrasing and so on. Time will tell whether he will mature to what he may be.

What draws my attention, however, is the filler Nocturnes Op.62 no.1. Blechacz claimed in the CD booklet that this late Nocturne of Chopin looks forward to impressionistic style like that of Debussy's. Whether you agree or not with such remark (I personally don't), you ought to be impressed by how he effectively communicates his insight to the audience. His graceful trills and phrasing vividly portraits a lovely duck swining its tail on a peaceful lake. The nocturnes is something that cannot sound too bad if you play according to the score. Just like an instant noodle can't taste too bad if you follow the instructions. Yet to turn it into a great meal requires much creativity and skill, here Blechacz shows a glimpse of both.

A great musician needs not be right always, but he will make believe what he thinks is the truth. Blechacz certainly has more than a hint of greatness in him.