Chopin: Rondo in C major, Op. 73

Bach’s music is no stranger to transcription; the composer himself visited upon some of these concertos diverse transformations, from cantata sinfonias to chamber concertos, in most cases adding or subtracting parts and instruments. The Amsterdam Guitar Trio, having around 18 strings at their disposal, may fairly and completely play the notes pretty much as Bach wrote them, but bring a new and diverting palette of instrumental colour.

That palette, at once vigorous and yet pastel-shaded, is even more germane to the musical ‘Impressionism’ of French composers at the turn of the 20th century. Debussy is claimed to be the father of the genre, but he hated the term and all its soft-focus implications of Monet made music (and music making money). Accordingly the AGT’s transcriptions are notable for their rhythmic vivacity.

We don’t hear much from the Amsterdam Guitar Trio these days – they gave their last concert in 2003 – so this reissue of two long-deleted albums is all the more welcome. Concert-goers in London and Amsterdam in particular will recall a dynamic ensemble, full of style and good humour that spills over into these recordings.

Shebanova interprets further works by Chopin. She is more than qualified to do so, as she did Postgraduate studies at the Warsaw Fryderyck Chopin Music Academy and since 1983 has given annual lectures at the Chopin Master Classes in Duszniki-Zdrój. She performs on an Erard 1849 fortepiano.

Nikolai Demidenko studied at the Moscow Conservatoire. A medallist in the 1976 Montreal and 1978 Tchaikovsky Competitions, he made his British début in 1985. He was granted British citizenship in 1995. Demidenko has given recitals throughout the world. His frequent Wigmore Hall recitals have included the Piano Masterworks - which won a Royal Philharmonic Society award.

Of all the great 19th century composers, none devoted their creativity exclusively on just one instrument, except Frederic Chopin. Every work of his is for the piano and aside from the concertante works only a handful is for piano and a second instrument, or piano and voice.

Chopin’s idol was Mozart, and the refined, romantic style he developed was as a result of both a thorough knowledge of Mozart and his pupil Hummel, who concertos and sonatas had a great influence on the young Chopin. The Irishman John Field who invented the Nocturne, and the showman of the piano Friedrich Kalkbrenner also played a part in the creation of Chopin’s unique musical personality.

The Nocturnes, Etudes, Preludes, Waltzes, Mazurkas, Polonaises, Ballades, Scherzos, the Fantasy and the Sonatas 2&3, the cello sonata and the two concertos rank among the very pinnacle of 19th century compositions for the piano. The popular image of Chopin as a slightly effeminate and sickly individual could not be further from the truth. The music on these discs is not the product of a gentle, retiring creature. It is passionate, turbulent, dramatic and at time violent as well as elegant and polished. Chopin, like his music is complex, highly individual and a mass of contradictions.

Some of the most famous piano music in the world is to be found on these CDs. From the ‘Minute Waltz’to the Raindrop Prelude and the Revolutionary Etude – many of these works are instantly recognisable. Recordings includes those made by Chandos (Lortie), Decca (Kocsis, Harasiewicz) with Gilels recorded in 1949 (Sonata No.2)