Sandro Russo - Chopin: Late Piano Masterpieces (2019) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Sandro Russo delves into the world of Chopin during his later years. “Chopin – Late Masterpieces” features some of his undisputed treasures from that period.

Though Chopin’s life tragically came to an end at just 39, he remained productive during his final years, and the late-period compositions featured on this album proved inspirational to many composers that came after him, including Debussy, Ravel and Scriabin.

A turning point in Chopin’s late style undoubtedly arose from studying Cherubini’s Treatise on Counterpoint & Fugue (1841), as well as from his continual interest in Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, which would be a source of inspiration throughout Chopin’s life. Interestingly, his newly acquired counterpoint mastery wasn’t channeled into new polyphonic forms, but rather into genres he previously treated in a somewhat “homophonic” manner – scherzos, mazurkas and polonaises, to name a few. New contrapuntal twists and inner voices now permeated even simple phrases, as in the middle section of the fourth Scherzo and in the bel canto melodies of the Berceuse and the Barcarolle. The harmonic sophistication and dramatic arch of the latter were unprecedented. Ravel, who wrote extensively about it, referred to its magical ending as a “mysterious apotheosis.”

The album closes with Chopin’s third piano sonata in B minor, a more expansive work than his two earlier sonatas. According to Russo, “while Chopin was generally more prolific in terms of shorter works, his achievement here clearly demonstrates his ability to cohesively weave a broad range of emotions into a larger work.”

Tracklist:
01. Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54
02. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 56: No. 1 in B Major
03. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 56: No. 2 in C Major
04. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 56: No. 3 in C Minor
05. Polonaise-fantaisie in A-Flat Major, Op. 61
06. Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57
07. Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
08. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58: I. Allegro maestoso
09. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58: II. Scherzo
10. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58: III. Largo
11. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58: IV. Finale-Presto non tanto