Fumiko Shiraga - Chopin: Piano Concertos (Chamber Version) (1997)

Chopin: The Two Piano Concertos (Chamber Version) is the amazing debut on disc of German pianist Fumiko Shiraga. For her maiden voyage on CD Shiraga has chosen a fascinating reconstruction of the two standard Frédéric Chopin Piano Concerti in chamber versions that nineteenth century publisher's lists say once existed side by side with the familiar full orchestral scores. They are played by Shiraga at the piano with the Yggdrasil Quartet and double bassist Jan-Inge Haukås providing the "orchestral" complement. Chopin is known to have rehearsed at least the Concerto in F minor this way with the section leaders of orchestras in preparation for his own concerts. Chopin was not strong in the art of orchestration, and the only surviving manuscript of either concerto, the one in F minor, demonstrates that in getting the orchestral parts together Chopin probably employed the help of an arranger. While there is no extant contemporary chamber score to follow, the realization is not difficult to comprehend -- the quintet follows the orchestral string parts, while Shiraga plays the solo part and throws in a tutti passage here and there on an ad lib basis. While some might protest that such practice is a mere bastardization of Chopin's art, listening to this recording certainly does not give that impression, rather it seems an entirely successful rendering of Chopin; conveying his craft, spirit, and the letter of the music.
Not just anyone could make Chopin: The Two Piano Concertos (Chamber Version) as magical as it is -- clearly it is Fumiko Shiraga who renders it so. Her deft brilliance of touch, and sensitivity to the overall shape to Chopin's music, is heightened by the smaller instrumental forces employed, smartly played by the Yggdrasil Quartet with Haukås yet never getting in Shiraga's way. Congratulations are also due to the producers at Bis for doing a great job on this recording, as the perspective and balance of the instruments is perfect. Even if one already owns Kissin, Arrau, or any of the other famous pianists in recordings of these Chopin concertos, Chopin: The Two Piano Concertos (Chamber Version) is still a must-have. One might even find that they prefer it to the full orchestral score, at least on disc.