Dinu Lipatti

Dinu Lipatti

wikipedia entry

The Roumanian pianist died young and all of his recordings are in mono, though some are in very good sound. This bargain 7-CD set is mandatory purchase for those who like pianism at its loftiest height but who do not mind sometimes compromised sound.

Almost all the content have been issued in single CDs, many deservedly in EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century".

One of my favorites here is the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21. I recently picked up an EMI LP of this and inside is a note by the producer Walter Legge. Apparently, this 1950 recording was made for Swiss Radio. Listening to the incisive, all-encompassing playing, you'll never realize this was played by a literally dying man. This was the last concerto he played and at the recording session only the pianist's wife, Artur Schnabel, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf (Legge's wife) and Legge were among the audience. Due to Swiss union rules, the tape was destroyed after broadcast and it took Legge/EMI 7 years to find an amateur recorded copy. Although the sound is not good, Lipatti's playing virtually leapt at you; and Karajan got incredibly expressive playing out of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. This is now my favorite version.

But my favorite Lipatti is the Bach Jesus, Joy of man's Desirings (from Cantata 147; youtube clip embedded below). I have never heard these played better and this is my all time favorite piano Bach (eclipsing Glenn Gould, yes). No one has come close.

Lipatti plays a Chopin Nocturne.
More Chopin