Frédéric Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 1; Ballades (Seong-Jin Cho)

Information

Composer: Frédéric Chopin

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11: I. Allegro maestoso
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11: II. Romance. Larghetto
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11: III. Rondo. Vivace
4. Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
5. Ballade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38
6. Ballade No. 3 in A Flat major, Op. 47
7. Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52

Seong-Jin Cho, piano

London Symphony Orchestra

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor

Date: 2016

Label: Deutsche Grammophon

-----------------------------------------------------------

Review

Eighteen months since winning the 2015 Chopin Competition, Seong-Jin Cho has already made his second album for Deutsche Grammophon. Actually this is his first studio album, as the previous recording – part of the winner’s ‘package’ – was taken from live performances during the competition. The Seoul-born pianist may not have been the first name on everyone’s lips during the tense wait for the final results, yet few were surprised when the announcement was made and he became South Korea’s first gold medallist in the competition’s history. As this new release confirms, his playing is unfailingly cultivated and his sound beautifully focused and poised.

It is good to be able to revisit his Concerto in E minor, the work that sealed his success in Warsaw, even if it now comes without the spontaneity of that momentous night. The London Symphony Orchestra sounds perhaps more well-upholstered than is ideal in this music, and Gianandrea Noseda is a reliable rather than inspiring accompanist. But right from the fortissimo octaves of the piano’s entry, Cho commands the work, and he leads the dance in the finale.

Though composed over about a decade, Chopin’s four Ballades require the same mix of lyrical restraint and virtuosity, and if Cho is perhaps inclined to overindulgence in the first, G minor piece, he strikes a more patrician tone in the rest.

— John Allison

-----------------------------------------------------------

Frédéric Chopin (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849) was a Polish Romantic composer and virtuoso pianist. A prodigy from Warsaw, he moved to Paris at 21, where he spent the rest of his short life. Although often in poor health, he produced a remarkable body of piano-centered works, including nocturnes, mazurkas, waltzes, polonaises, études and two piano concertos. His music, which is known for technical brilliance and innovative harmony, helped shape musical nationalism and late-Romantic style. Chopin's iconic status, dramatic life, and early death made him one of the enduring symbols of the Romantic era.

***

Seong-Jin Cho (born 28 May 1994) is a South Korean pianist. He was brought to the world's attention in 2015 when he won First Prize at the Chopin International Competition. Since then Cho has established himself as an in-demand soloist and recitalist performing at premier global venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw. He regularly collaborates with leading orchestras and world-renowned conductors, recently serving as Artist in Residence with the Berliner Philharmoniker for the 2024/25 season. An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, Cho has released many critically acclaimed recordings.

-----------------------------------------------------------