Yulianna Avdeeva, Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Brüggen - Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (2013) CD-Rip

The pianist on this CD, Yulliana Avdeeva, is the winner of the Chopin piano competition in 2010. Checking the internet, you will find that the decision by the jury was controversial. Her playing was considered not to display the proper Chopin style, and too cool. I wasn't present at the competition, so I cannot write much about this. But having bought this CD, mainly because of use of old instruments, and the direction by the recently deceased icon of old music Frans Brüggen, I must say that I was totally blown away by the playing of Yulianna Avdeeva. These are highly emotional interpretations of the Chopin concertos, which brought almost tears to my eyes. She really pours her soul into this music. She uses quite some rubato, and uses the full possibilities of the old piano (an Erard from 1849), sometimes making it whisper and sometimes uses the maximum volume achievable on such an instrument. To my ears this piano is less even than a modern one, but the sound colour changes between piano and forte enhance the level of expression of the music. I am not sure what a proper Chopin style is, Chopin is long dead, so he can't tell us. But at least I felt closer to Chopin than with other performances of these works I heard.