Chopin

A Review of "The poor sad angel"
From Classical Net - CD Reviews, Oct 97
Written by Geoffrey Crankshaw

Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49; Ballade in F minor, Op. 52; Waltz in C sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2; Scherzo in E minor, Op. 54; Polonaise in A flat, Op. 53; Mazurkas, Op. 50; Nocturnes - in D flat, Op. 27, No. 2; in E, Op. 62, No. 2 - Nikolai Lugansky (piano) - Vanguard Classics 99122 - 68:00 DDD

This disc bears the title "The poor sad angel", George Sand's somewhat patronising description of the piano's supreme genius. Nothing poor about this programme, a nicely representative one, and when the music could be called sad, it is the sadness of humanity as a whole one should have in mind.

Lugansky plays with fire as well as tenderness, with compassion as well as celebration. His basic tone is well-rounded and quite noble in its overall effect, while his fioritura have jewelled clarity and melodic relevance. He is at his best in the mighty Polonaise in A flat, delivered as a national epic rather than a display of militaristic flamboyance. The thundering bass octaves have never sounded clearer.