Nelson Freire & Lionel Bringuier - Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2, Ballade No. 4, Berceuse & Polonaise héroïque (2015) [Hi-Res]

In the third of three new landmark albums on the Decca label, Nelson Freire marks his 70th birthday year with a stunning recording of Chopin’s lyrical and brilliant Piano Concerto No. 2

The recording was made in Cologne with the Gurzenich-Orchester Koln and Lionel Bringuier, one of the most talked-about of the younger generation of conductors and features some favourite Chopin solo works – the Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52, the Berceuse in D flat major, Op. 57, the Polonaise in A flat major, Op. 53, Three Mazurkas, Op. 50, plus the Impromptu in G flat major Op. 51

This is Freire’s fourth Chopin recording for Decca, which includes his celebrated set of the complete Nocturnes, of which the Guardian wrote: “[Freire] respects the poise and elegance of the melodic lines, floating them exquisitely while teasing out the harmonies beneath with fastidious care; this is Chopin playing of high quality, from one of the finest pianists alive today.”