Gianmaria Bonino - Chopin: 24 Études Opp. 10 & 25 (2017)

Tracklist
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01. Étude No. 1 in C Major, Op. 10 "Waterfall": Allegro
02. Étude No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 10 "Chromatique": Allegro
03. Étude No. 3 in E Major, Op. 10 "Tristesse": Lento ma non troppo
04. Étude No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 10 "Torrent": Presto
05. Étude No. 5 in G-Flat Major, Op. 10 "Black Keys": Vivace
06. Étude No. 6 in E-Flat Minor, Op. 10 "Lament": Andante
07. Étude No. 7 in C Major, Op. 10 "Toccata": Vivace
08. Étude No. 8 in F Major, Op. 10 "Sunshine": Allegro
09. Étude No. 9 in F Minor, Op. 10: Allegro molto agitato
10. Étude No. 10 in A-Flat Major, Op. 10: Vivace assai
11. Étude No. 11 in E-Flat Major, Op. 10 "Arpeggio": Allegretto
12. Étude No. 12 in C Minor, Op. 10 "Revolutionary": Allegro con fuoco
13. Étude No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 25 "Aeolian Harp": Allegro sostenuto
14. Étude No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 25 "The Bees": Presto
15. Étude No. 3 in F Major, Op. 25 "The Horseman": Allegro
16. Étude No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 25 "Paganini": Agitato
17. Étude No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 25 "Wrong Note": Vivace
18. Étude No. 6 in G-Sharp Minor, Op. 25 "Thirds": Allegro
19. Étude No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 25 "Cello": Lento
20. Étude No. 8 in D-Flat Major, Op. 25 "Sixths":Vivace
21. Étude No. 9 in G-Flat Major, Op. 25 "Butterfly": Allegro assai
22. Étude No. 10 in B Minor, Op. 25 "Octave": Allegro con fuoco
23. Étude No. 11 in A Minor, Op. 25 "Winter Wind": Lento-Allegro con brio
24. Étude No. 12 in C Minor, Op. 25 "Ocean": Molto allegro, con fuoco

Gianmaria Bonino starts on Cantus a series devoted to Chopin’s music, and he does no less than with the Études op. 10 and op. 25, pieces of great difficulty that he negotiates with his prodigious technique and his wonderful sensibility. It is true that a few recordings have featured Chopin played on period instruments in the last few years, but most of such recordings have been given to pianists not really familiar with historical pianos, and they have not been able to get from Chopin’s output all the beauty and expressivity that is hidden in his musical language.

Gianmaria Bonino is the proud owner of a collection of historical fortepianos, among them a Pleyel dated 1842 and a Broadwood most possibly used by Beethoven. His recording is a new hallmark in the fortepiano discography. One can’t but admire the sensuous, melancholy way in which he performs the most introspective pages; on the other hand, his power, his fire, his capacity to give each note its exact sense make his readings absolutely fascinating. Add on top the unique sonority of the Pleyel instrument used in our recordings and a formidable recording engineering that captures an impressively clear sound, and we shall coincide in saying that Chopin had never been recorded like this before. Every detail, every gesture of the performer can be felt, enjoyed and loved.