Fryderyck Chopin

Fryderyck Chopin was born near Warsaw, probably on 1 March 1810. His short life encompassed miraculous musical achievements, the legacy of which has been revered by generations of pianists since his death from tubercolosis on 17 October 1849.

A selection of articles about Fryderyck Chopin

Spotlight. A Romantic Piano Master - Esdras Mugatik listens to Shura Cherkassky. '... a magical capacity to differentiate levels of sound ...'

Ensemble. Disarmingly Elegant - Mike Wheeler is impressed by Grieg and Chopin from British pianist Alexander Ullman

Spotlight. A Very Original Compilation - Geoff Pearce appreciates Piotr Anderszewski's recordings of Janáček, Szymanowski and Bartók. '... dazzling technique ...'

Ensemble. Expressive Variety - Mike Wheeler listens to Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin from Israeli pianist Ariel Lanyi

Ensemble. Judiciously Balanced - Mike Wheeler listens to a recital by Petr Limonov

Ensemble. Baba-Yaga's Whistle - Mike Wheeler is impressed by Lyadov, Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Rachmaninov from Pavel Kolesnikov and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko

Ensemble. An Uncanny Cool and Relaxed Demeanour - Malcolm Miller is impressed by the London recital of young Chinese-Canadian pianist Kevin Chen

Music as a Form of Magic - Larry Sitsky: Late Piano Pieces - Second Series 2022-2023

An Act of Love - Malcolm Miller discusses the play 'Dedication'

To Talk or Not to Talk - Béla Hartmann discusses whether or not musicians should speak out in public

Ensemble. A Puzzle Without a Solution? - Mike Wheeler listens to Ravel and Chopin played by Russian-born British pianist Petr Limonov

Ensemble. Bubbling Energy - Mike Wheeler listens to Sarah Beth Briggs

Ensemble. Chopin Forever - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Gloria Campaner

Ensemble. Absolutely Chopin - Giuseppe Pennisi is treated to a Chopin recital in Rome by Leonora Armellini

Ensemble. Focus and Clarity - Mike Wheeler listens to J S Bach, Chopin, Schubert and Debussy from English pianist Colin Stone

Ensemble. An Extraordinary Journey - Mike Wheeler listens to Charles Owen's piano recital at the 2022 Buxton Festival

CD Spotlight. Spirit of a Nation - Gerald Fenech is impressed by music of nineteenth century Polish composers Henryk Wieniawski, Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński and Karol Kurpiński. '... both players and soloists surpass themselves with passionate renditions ...'

Ensemble. Commemorating Malcolm Goldring - The Sitwell Singers pay tribute to their former conductor, with help from various friends and colleagues, including a new work written for the occasion by Bob Chilcott, heard by Mike Wheeler

Classical music news. May 2022 Newsletter - Our May 2022 PDF newsletter has just been published

Ensemble. A Fascinatingly Piquant Sound-world - Music for saxophone and harp, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. The Early Bird Arrives - Two more concerts at the 2021 Buxton Festival, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Whatever He's On, I Want Some - Mike Wheeler listens to Kathryn Stott's Buxton recital

CD Spotlight. An Unforgettable Recital - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė listens to Evgeny Kissin's Chopin recital from the 1985 December Nights Music Festival. 'From the very beginning of his career at the top of his game, Evgeny Kissin presents a performance that is, simply put, wild.'

CD Spotlight. An Atmosphere of Serene Beauty - Matthew Washington Kennedy's 'familiar favorites', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Hugely pleasant stuff, passionately executed and recorded.'

Ensemble. A Veritable Cat's Cradle - Mike Wheeler listens to Robert and Clara Schumann, Chopin, Grieg and Cheryl Frances-Hoad, played by British pianist Tom Poster

Ensemble. Mischievous Silences - Lithuanian pianist Ugnius Pauliukonis plays Haydn, Chopin and Debussy, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Delicately Played - Ali Hirèche plays Chopin, heard by Patrick Maxwell. 'Hirèche manages to give an impeccable portrait of Chopin, through a mixture of the multiple skills required to give an effervescent yet intimate feel to the music.'

A Call to Action - George Colerick discusses early Romanticism, with particular reference to Schubert, the piano, Schumann and the development of the symphony orchestra

Jerome Rose - In the build-up to New York's International Keyboard Institute and Festival, Richard Meszto writes about the festival's founder

Classical music news. Stanisław Moniuszko Competition - The deadline for applications to take part in a new Polish music competition is 23 June 2019

Vital Work - Margaret Fingerhut's UK piano recital tour raising awareness of the needs of refugees, recommended by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Improvisatory Freedom - Gerald Fenech listens to pianist Myron Romanul. 'Romanul's playing brims with an expressive power that generates its own excitement and self-belief ...'

CD Spotlight. Beautifully Realized - Richard Harwood's EMI debut, heard by the late Howard Smith. 'Harwood never once strives for effect ...'

CD Spotlight. Beautifully Executed - Todd Crow's Chopin Mazurkas, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'This disc contains some very fine performances ...'

Ensemble. Puppyish Ebullience - Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Dushkin, Bob Marley, Coleridge-Taylor and Monti from the Kanneh-Mason Trio, heard by Mike Wheeler

Boldly Presented - Martin Cousin's piano recital for Derby Chamber Music, heard by Mike Wheeler

Calm Authority - A recital by young British-Turkish pianist Lara Melda impresses Mike Wheeler

A Fascinating Programme - Dina Duisen plays Beethoven, Chopin, Saint-Saëns, Liszt and Nagim Mendygaliev, impressing Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Musical Values - Lara Downes plays Coleridge-Taylor, Chopin, Bloch, Bernstein transcriptions and Gershwin, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Highly Poetic - Angela Brownridge plays Chopin Ballades, heard by Lucas Ball. '... both technically and poetically impressive with a wide range of emotions ...'

CD Spotlight. Puckish Effervesence - A piano recital by Stephen Hough, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... music from the sublime to the Antipodean.'

Ensemble. Typically Thoughtful - Paul Lewis at the Buxton Festival, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. High Ambitions - Michael Landes was at the American Protégé Winners' recital on 14 May 2017 in Carnegie Hall

Ensemble. Zip and Enthusiasm - Members of the Kanneh-Mason family playing at the Belper Arts Festival, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Truly Memorable - Carnival music for piano, recommended by the late Howard Smith. 'Goldstone unravels Schumann's variegated vignettes with outstanding technical precision and startling intellectual probity ...'

Ensemble. Emotional Complexities - Alexei Grynyuk plays Scarlatti, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Schubert, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Elegantly Presented - Mike Wheeler listens to pianist Ji Liu

Ensemble. A Study in Dislocation - Mike Wheeler listens to Chopin, Debussy, Ligeti, Liszt, Grigory Ginzburg and Scarlatti, played by Isata Kanneh-Mason

A Demanding Programme - Richard Uttley plays Schumann, Chopin and Beethoven, appreciated by Mike Wheeler

A Standard-Bearer - Nicholas McCarthy plays Reinecke's Sonata for the left hand, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ferocious Energy - Jackie Campbell's piano recital at Buxton, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Cohesive Power - Burkard Schliessmann, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... seldom less than impressive ...'

CD Spotlight. Expertly Constructed - Beth Levin plays Chopin, Eliasson and Schumann, heard by Tiara Ataii. '... brilliantly articulated ...'

CD Spotlight. Spirited Performances - Jean Yves Thibaudet plays Chopin, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... this revival of early Thibaudet performances is consistently satisfying.'

CD Spotlight. Deeply Probing - Chopin piano music, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... a lovely and singing tone ...'

CD Spotlight. Rippling Imagery - A piano recital by Jeremy Eskenazi, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... evident affinity with music requiring rapid rippling imagery and astute tonal control.'

CD Spotlight. Expertly Sculpted - James Brawn's time traveller recital delights Andrew Schartmann. 'Each time a passage repeats ... Brawn shows us something new.'

Ensemble. Vividly Characterised - A piano recital by Emmanuel Despax, heard by Mike Wheeler

A Major Talent - Mishka Rushdie Momen plays Chopin, impressing Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Woman for all Seasons - Gerald Fenech returns to Festival Maribor in Slovenia

Finely-Judged - Mike Wheeler listens to most of a piano recital by Ashley Wass

CD Spotlight. Compelling Listening - Lithuanian-born pianist Vytautas Smetona impresses Geoff Pearce. 'His cantabile playing almost transports you to heaven ...'

CD Spotlight. Impressively Able - An-Ting Chang's 'Water Image', heard by Howard Smith. '... highlighting the theatrical and audio possibilities of nineteenth century piano music ...'

Ensemble. Delicate Shadings - Noriko Ogawa, the Warsaw Philharmonic and Jacek Kaspszyk, heard by Mike Wheeler

Memorable Distinction - Halida Dinova brings her Liszt to New Zealand, by Howard Smith

CD Spotlight. Most Beguiling - Works by Chopin written in 1846, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'A positive artistic experience ...'

Ensemble. A Wealthy Maverick - Music by the French composer George Onslow, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Treasurable Renditions - Sokolov at Salzburg, strongly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... Sokolov's playing is mesmerizing throughout ...'

Commitment and Insight - Ingrid Jacoby plays Mozart, Chopin, Brahms and Musorgsky, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Astonishing Performances - Early recordings by Nelson Freire impress Gerald Fenech. 'An ideal set for ... all who admire this truly great soloist.'

Ensemble. Vivid Evocation - Mark Bebbington plays Beethoven, Ireland, Chopin and Gershwin, heard by Mike Wheeler

A Good Fit - Dénes Várjon's Nottingham piano recital, praised by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Rhythmical Flair - David Wilde's Chopin impresses Robert Anderson. '... Wilde shows how it can be transformed in the hands of a master.'

Full Marks - Bill Newman listens to Nikolai Demidenko

Ensemble. Open-air Performance - A triptych of ballet on tour, with dancing in the monumental Roman ruins, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Dance-like Vitality - Nick van Bloss plays Chopin, heard by Andrew Schartmann. '... unprecedented freshness ...'

A Compelling Overall Experience - Mike Wheeler listens to Italian pianist Leonora Armellini

Deeper Probings - A recital by Jong-Gyung Park, heard by Mike Wheeler

Consummate Elegance - Mike Wheeler listens to Sarah Beth Briggs

CD Spotlight. A Special Affinity - Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt from Viktor Bijelovic, heard by Andrew Schartmann. '... beautiful voicing and highly sensitive phrasing.'

The Magic of Performance - Part II - On the Elusive Nature of the Nationalist Spirit in Music, by Andrew Schartmann

CD Spotlight. Dazzling Tracks - Dinu Lipatti, heard by Joanne Chang. '... skillfully and brilliantly carried out.'

Andrew Schartmann's Musical Tidbits - From Pedantry to Masterwork. A Note on Chopin's Étude in C major, Op 10, No 1

Ensemble. Finely Judged - Chinese pianist Di Xiao, heard by Mike Wheeler

Most Impressive - Bill Newman listens to Swiss-Italian pianist Francesco Piemontesi

Lucidity of Touch - Leonora Armellini plays for the Keyboard Trust, heard by Bill Newman

Mazurka for Laptop - Gloria DeVidas Kirchheimer's adventures with downloading music

Superbly Realised - Llyr Williams plays for the Chopin Society UK, heard by Bill Newman

Ensemble. The Flame of Music - Malcolm Troup reports on new arrivals from China and Lithuania at the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Summer Festival in London

Ensemble. Beauty of Tone - Danill Trifonov's prizewinner's concert from the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition, reviewed by Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Most Remarkable - Jamaican pianist Orrett Rhoden, heard by Bill Newman

Ensemble. Superb Playing - Bill Newman listens to a selection of instrumental chamber music in London

Emotional Impressions - Bill Newman listens to Neapolitan pianist Clelia Cafiero

South Bank Pianists - Bill Newman listens to Peter Donohoe, Richard Goode and Peter Jablonski

Expressive Insights - A recital by Lara Melda, heard by Mike Wheeler

Superbly Interpreted - Jonathan Biss plays Beethoven and Janácek, heard by Bill Newman

Fun-and-games Time - Mike Wheeler listens to Venetian pianist Alessandro Taverna

Ensemble. 2011 Specials - A roundup of London concerts enjoyed by Bill Newman, featuring recitals by Alice Sara Ott, the Emerson Quartet, Martin Fröst and Roland Pontinen, the Orchestra of the Polish EU Presidency, Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä and Roope Grondahl, and Martino Tirimo's Rosamunde Trio

CD Spotlight. Glorious - Henri Barda plays Brahms, Beethoven and Chopin, recommended by Bill Newman. 'The performances are in a class of their own.'

Ensemble. Flying Colours - Yelian He and Yasmin Rowe play Chopin, Beethoven and Piazzolla, heard by Bill Newman

Courage and Finesse - A recital by pianist Arisu Nakao, heard by Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Innumerable Delights - Rubinstein plays Chopin, heard by Robert Anderson. '... recordings of remarkable consistency ...'

Ensemble. Rapturous Praises - Yasmin Rowe, Sarah Sew and Tadashi Imai at London's Wigmore Hall, heard by Bill Newman

Vividly Captured - A piano recital by Richard Uttley, heard by Mike Wheeler

Turning Gravity into Grace - Malcolm Troup has three encounters with the sublime

Consummate Artists - Malcolm Troup reports on the BPSE Summer Festival at London's Regent Hall, where for the first time Music, not consumerism, called the shots

Ever Responsive - Two recitals by Alberto Portugheis impress Malcolm Miller

Profile. All-Involving - Turkish pianist Idil Biret talks to Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Compelling and Pleasurable - Arthur Friedheim plays Liszt, Chopin, Gottschalk and Henselt, heard by Patric Standford. '... a slightly improvisatory interpretation ...'

Ensemble. Serious Intentions - Bill Newman listens to Stephen Hough

CD Spotlight. Unaffected Restraint - Halida Dinova plays music that tells stories, heard by Howard Smith. '... a mesmerising interpreter ...'

Ensemble. Musical Outlooks - Bill Newman attends a selection of concerts at London's Wigmore Hall

CD Spotlight. Outside the Box - A recital by Gunnar Johansen, heard by Howard Smith. '... a floodtide of seismic power and romantic fervor ...'

Ensemble. A Great Success - Sergey Sobolev plays Chopin, Liszt and Schumann, heard by Bill Newman

Ensemble. Zip and Sparkle - Alexandra Dariescu plays Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and Constantin Silvestri, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Richly Expressive - The Cleveland Orchestra begins its annual South Florida residency, by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. High Standards - Bill Newman listens to various artists at London's Wigmore Hall

Absolutely Outstanding - Kotaro Fukuma's performances of Schumann, Chopin and Liszt amaze Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Deeply Satisfying - Elena Kuschnerova plays J S Bach, selected by Howard Smith. '... decisive and fresh as a dewfall.'

Subtly Controlled - Spanish pianist Javier Perianes plays Schubert, Chopin, Debussy and Falla, heard by Mike Wheeler

An Ever-Active Hive - Robert Anderson examines the latest score from Acuta Music

New Year Blues - A roundup of recent London concerts by Bill Newman

Boundless Energy - Warren Mailley-Smith, heard by Mary Isaac

Drama and Poetry - Mary Isaac listens to Russian pianist Olga Stezhko

Highly Impressive - A recital by Michael Ierace, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

Vigour and Energy - Benjamin Frith saves the day, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Much to Enjoy - Johannes Goritzki and Julian Jacobson at London's Royal College of Music, heard by Robert Anderson

CD Spotlight. Striking Musicianship - Elena Kuschnerova plays Prokofiev, heard by Howard Smith. '... sparkling, lyrical and appropriately balletic ...'

Liquid Finger-work - Mike Wheeler listens to a piano recital by Cordelia Williams

Ensemble. Better Late than Never - The BPSE Late Summer Festival, attended by Malcolm Troup

Ensemble. A Memorable Night - The Israel Camerata Orchestra Jerusalem, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Flying Colours - A piano recital by Theresia Renelt, appreciated by Mary Isaac

Ensemble. Highly Effective - Bax, Chopin and Prokofiev from Artur Pizarro, Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Beautifully Subtle - Bobby Chen launches Derby Chamber Music's new season, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Pilgrimages of the Soul - Giuseppe Pennisi visits Italy's Sagra Musicale Umbra

CD Spotlight. A Wondrous Variety - Piano music by Chopin and Liszt, heard by Robert Anderson. '... Dominic Piers Smith survives not only intact but triumphant ...'

Majesty, Moment and Control - Ben Bloor's concluding recital for Derby Cathedral's 2010 summer organ series impresses Tony Westerman

CD Spotlight. Enviable Ease - Irena Portenko plays Chopin, recommended by Robert Anderson. '... easy fluidity of touch and tone ...'

CD Spotlight. Spellbinding Artistry - Jonathan Plowright plays Chopin, recommended by Howard Smith. '... positively hair-raising.'

Ensemble. Neatly Balanced - A City Lit music gala, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller

Stimulating Fare - Eugene Alcalay plays Bartók, Dutilleux and Beethoven, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller

CD Spotlight. Thrilling Mastery - Tanja Becker-Bender plays Paganini, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... sparkling clarity and power ...'

Deeply Expressive - Helen Cha plays John Mackenzie, Bach, Haydn and Chopin, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Charm and Elan - Vladimir Ashkenazy, Ingrid Fliter and the Cleveland Orchestra, heard by Lawrence Budmen

Ask Alice - On the appointment of a masterchef for musicians, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

CD Spotlight. Formidably Difficult - Antonín Dvorák's Piano Concerto, heard by Stephen Francis Vasta. '... commendable, as far as it goes.'

Ensemble. Sense of Purpose - Beate Toyka and Thomas Solzbacher celebrate Chopin, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Splendidly Imaginative - Julian Jacobson and Meng Yang Pan celebrate Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year, enjoyed by Mary Isaac

Ready for 2010 - Carolyn Ellis deals with a not so pleasant Christmas surprise

Eleven Days without 'Aunt Mary' - Carolyn Ellis describes an unusual problem whilst travelling

CD Spotlight. A Diverse Miscellany - Rachel Barton Pine's tribute to Maud Powell, welcomed by Howard Smith. '... irresistible artistry ...'

A dream come true - Carolyn Ellis on buying a new piano

Thank You Mama - Bill Newman talks to pianist Igor Tchetuev

Ardent Charms - Bill Newman reviews two recitals by pianist Igor Tchetuev

Bizarre Perception - Alistair Hinton discusses a recent article on English music by David Hamilton

Outstanding and unforgettable - Lilya Zilberstein's recital at London's Wigmore Hall impresses Bill Newman

Ensemble. Unity of Conception - Malcolm Troup was at the BPSE Summer Festival in London

Thoughtfulness of Approach - A recital by Australian pianist Jayson Gillham, reviewed by Bill Newman

Ensemble. True Artistry - Howard Smith attends New Zealand's Music Fair of Japan 2009

Ensemble. An Immensely Successful Event - Thomas Bielinski reports from the West Cork Chamber Music Festival 2009

Ensemble. Excellent Throughout - A lunchtime piano recital by Maiko Mori, heard by Bill Newman

Ensemble. Exceptional Gifts - Lawrence Budmen reports from the 2009 Miami International Piano Festival

Ensemble. Refreshingly Different - Mike Wheeler listens to the Prague Symphony Orchestra

Ensemble. Humanity and Generosity - Malcolm Miller attends a memorial concert for David Sonin

Vigorous and Declamatory - Sacha Grynyuk plays for Derby Chamber Music, heard by Mike Wheeler

Record Box. Admirable Musicianship - Caroline Clemmow and Anthony Goldstone play Chopin and entertain Robert Anderson

Record Box. Playful Scope - Marc-André Hamelin's Chopin delights Robert Anderson

Record Box. A Lovely Recital - Valentina Igoshina plays Chopin, recommended by Robert Anderson

CD Spotlight. Striking Originality - Chamber music by Roger Smalley, recommended by Howard Smith. '... the performance may be regarded as definitive.'

Thought and Understanding - Wanda Jeziorska finds food for thought in Mishka Momen's latest recital

Mightily Impressed - Nikolai Demidenko plays Chopin, enjoyed by Bill Newman

A Natural Approach - Alex Kobrin plays Haydn, Beethoven and Chopin, heard by Bill Newman

An Enviable Technique - Matthew Schellhorn's Wigmore Hall début recital, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Penetrating Musical Insight - Evgenia Rubinova plays Chopin with the Orchestra of Opera North in Huddersfield and Leeds, heard by Patric Standford

Prizewinner's Recital - Malcolm Miller applauds Julian Clef at London's Foundling Museum

Nota Bene - K C Devereaux tells the story of the second best piano student in the class

Ensemble. Playfulness and Spirit - Mike Wheeler joins the Hallé Orchestra's 150th birthday celebrations

An Inspiring Read - Anthony Davie reads Victor Lederer's book 'Chopin: A Listener's Guide to the Master of the Piano'

DVD Spotlight. A Memorable Experience - 'Fedora', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'Giordano's wishes were admirably followed ...'

CD Spotlight. Intense Seriousness - A recital by Canadian pianist Robert Silverman, recommended by Gordon Rumson

Record Box. Noble and Poetic - Sequeira Costa plays Chopin, reviewed by Bill Newman

Ensemble. A Chinese Wunderkind - Nine-year-old Niu Niu's Wigmore Hall début, admired by Malcolm Troup

A Force to Reckon With - Malcolm Miller enjoys a Wigmore Hall recital by the young Bulgarian pianist Vesselin Stanev

Ensemble. Piano meets Sitar - Malcolm Miller at a CD launch of Peter Feuchtwanger's exotic piano music

A Touch of Authenticity - A recital by Karolina Marchlewska, reviewed by Tau Wey

Ensemble. Full of Life - Compositions by M Zachary Johnson premièred at Steinway Hall, reviewed by Anna Franco

Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - School music

Ensemble. To the Manner Born - Marcella Crudeli's recital at London's Leighton House, enjoyed by Malcolm Troup

Ensemble. Deeply satisfying - A piano recital by Jane Ford, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Bravura virtuosity - Lawrence Budmen was at the Miami International Piano Festival

Ensemble. Contrasting pianists - by Bill Newman

A singular event - Sergei Podobedov plays Bach/Busoni, Liadov, Boris Goltz and Chopin, reviewed by David Braid

Ensemble. Commanding performances - Valerie Tryon at the Chopin Society on VE Day Anniversary, appreciated by Malcolm Miller

Ensemble. Sizzling Prokofiev - A recital by Adam Neiman, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

CD Spotlight. Individuated lyricism - Marianna Rashkovetsky plays Chopin, reviewed by John Bell Young. '... luscious tone and interpretive ardency.'

CD Spotlight. Passion for Bach - Dominic Miller's 'Shapes', reviewed by Tess Crebbin. '... he is a genius.'

Ensemble. Changing the world - Lang Lang displays musical excellence at the Rheingau Music Festival, reviewed by Tess Crebbin

Ensemble. Poetic Chopin - Lawrence Budmen enjoyed the Seventh Miami International Piano Festival Discovery Series

Transcending virtuosity - Alistair Hinton comments on points made in Gordon Rumson's recent Chopin review

CD Spotlight. Brave heart - Angela Lear's search for the essential Chopin, by Gordon Rumson. '... heroic single-mindedness.'

Ensemble. A special treat - Maria Nockin enthuses over Ewa Podles' recent recital for San Diego Opera

CD Spotlight. Overall control - Hsia-Jung Chang plays Chopin, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... dazzling technique ...'

Japanese Fantasy - Malcolm Miller admires the virtuosity of Hiromi Okada and the Sonata by Akio Yashiro

Record box. Impetuous abandon - Ron Bierman is amazed by the playing of Marc-André Hamelin

Ensemble. Latin American blend - Malcolm Miller applauds Alberto Portugheis in recital

CD Spotlight. Variable sonorities - Reacting to Chopin and Schumann, by Robert Anderson. '... some moments might well have caused Chopin to block his ears and flee across the Channel ...'

A perceptive pianist - Bill Newman listens to Yoo Na Noh

CD Spotlight - Immanent power. '... a musician's musician, one who harvests a composition for its intimacy and expressive nuance.' Walter Hautzig plays dances for the piano, reviewed by John Bell Young

New twists - Malcolm Miller listens to American pianist John Robilette

CD Spotlight - Piano masterpieces. '... these performances are as compelling as they are touching.' A recital by the young Texan pianist Roger Wright, by John Bell Young

Planning your collection - Jess and Moser -

Planning your collection - Luiza Borac -

Planning your collection - Lukas Vondracek -

The Interpretation of Chopin - by Angela Lear

Planning your collection - Global Fascinations and Sophistications - Chopin Mazurkas, Hummel piano music, Charles Koechlin and Kenneth Leighton, with Bill Newman