Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Lang Lang: The Chopin Album

Top positive review

Best pianist I have ever heard. Truly an amazing artist.

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2018

I am a classical music listener for more than 30 years. Most of my life when it comes to the best pianists I have heard in my life was Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Krystian Zimerman to name a few.
Then I heard Lang Lang. This CD changed my mind forever. I thought he was just pure hype. My wife is a voice/music major, and she agrees that Lang Lang is the best she has ever heard.
His pure technicality, articulation, smoothness, and artistry is second to none. I am forever spoiled listening to his skill.

6 people found this helpful

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D. Maeda

Just okay!

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2019

This is my first Lang Lang CD. It’s ok. Not as good as I expected. Probably my last too.

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From the United States

Goahead

Best pianist I have ever heard. Truly an amazing artist.

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2018

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6 people found this helpful

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P. Adrian

Lang Lang's chopinesque virtuosity and youthful playfulness

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2012

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After my first experience with Lang Lang's recordings - his thrilling Liszt album released in 2011 - this time I was tempted to listen to him performing on disc some of the truly jewels in the Chopin treasure (Etudes op.25, some Nocturnes and Waltzes, plus the solo version of the Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise).

His fabulous keyboard technique dominates - as in his Liszt accounts - the proceedings. Yet a more refined - in musical terms - approach would have been helped more in imposing this achievement in the memory of the listener. However, there is a seductive freshness in his playing throughout, while a deeply felt empathy surfaces here and there. Lang Lang scatters inspired shadows and lights in his interpretations, absorbing the vivid aromas of the score. He seems to get poetic depths especially in Nocturnes (the marvellous op. posth. one is simply marvellously played). The 12 Studies op.25 are treated as mere exercises with few exceptions. But what fabulous exceptions! For instance, the "Winter" Etude becomes a hair-raising experience when Lang Lang relishes a wild storm on the keyboard. The Grande Valse Brillante breathes an impressive air of gracious playfulness due to his comprehensive and sparkling approach too.

Surprising - and not inspired, in my opinion - the last track featuring a kind of sung version of the main theme of Etude no.3 op.10. It could (maybe even should) miss the selection of pieces included on this album.

Released quite simultaneously with Maurizio Pollini's new Chopin recording, this album by Lang Lang falls a little bit secondary. Although I consider it deserves little above 4 stars, I'll give all the 5 ones, simply for its freshness and youthful vision on a demanding Chopin repertory. These are in my opinion utterly equivalent to Pollini's aristocratic refinement in Chopin, balancing the other side of the scales.

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Seinfeld19

Beautiful artistry

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2020

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Beautiful execution, wonderful interpretation and a great present to oneself.

One person found this helpful

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D. Maeda

Just okay!

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is my first Lang Lang CD. It’s ok. Not as good as I expected. Probably my last too.

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Sky

Lang Lang shows his sensitive side

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2013

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What I really liked about this Chopin Album is that unlike his Liszt album, Lang Lang didn't play all of the extremely stereotypical pieces of Chopin. Yes you could debate that his etudes are very often played but overall, I think his choice of repertoire was much more classier than his Liszt. I also enjoyed listening to his more musical side which came out more in this album as well. Overall, Lang Lang produced a very respectable Chopin CD!

5 people found this helpful

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