Fou Ts'ong

[Verena]

Hello pianophiles,

this is a pianist I hardly know. But I stumbled on some short amazon excerpts from various CDs which I quite liked (Schumann, Schubert) - but the excerpts are just too short to really form a remotely reliable impression.
Any opinions? Any composers where he particularly ecels?
Thanks

[Mandryka]

Very interesting Beethoven PC4. Quite different from anyone else's PC4 that I have heard. There was a big discussion about it at rmcr -- that's what put me onto it. I also know some of his early Chopin mazurkas and some Mozart concertos -- they haven't so far become favourites. The mazurkas have a cult following I think.

But that PC4 continues to impress me.

[Verena]

Very interesting Beethoven PC4. Quite different from anyone else's PC4 that I have heard. There was a big discussion about it at rmcr -- that's what put me onto it. I also know some of his early Chopin mazurkas and some Mozart concertos -- they haven't so far become favourites. The mazurkas have a cult following I think.

But that PC4 continues to impress me.

Thanks very much, Mandryka, I'll check out that Beethoven PC4.

[PaulSC]

He's famous for the Chopin Mazurkas having won the special prize at the Chopin competition many years ago, if I recall correctly.

He's uneven in concert these days -- memory slips and messy playing, or so I've read.

I love his disc of Scarlatti sonatas, which is actually the only thing I own.


[asin]B00008VGLD[/asin]

[George]

He's famous for the Chopin Mazurkas having won the special prize at the Chopin competition many years ago, if I recall correctly.

Yes, I think he came in third, behind Ashkenazy and Francois.

EDIT: looks like that was third in 1955 behind Ashy and Harasiewicz, if Wiki can be trusted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Chopin_Piano_Competition

[PaulSC]

Third overall, and winner of the special prize for Mazurkas. Hard for me to make sense of Harasiewicz winning over Ashkenazy, but these competitions are often a bit ¯\(°_0)/¯ ...

[Verena]

He's famous for the Chopin Mazurkas having won the special prize at the Chopin competition many years ago, if I recall correctly.

He's uneven in concert these days -- memory slips and messy playing, or so I've read.

I love his disc of Scarlatti sonatas, which is actually the only thing I own.


[asin]B00008VGLD[/asin]

Thanks Paul! I'll try those.

[prémont]

A number of Mazurcas are contained in the "Polish Chopin fortepiano" box. Can be purchased separately.

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Frederic-Chopin-Mazurken-Nr-6-11-12-14-16-19-22-25-26-30-31-32-35-36-40-46/hnum/7147591

[Verena]

A number of Mazurcas are contained in the "Polish Chopin fortepiano" box. Can be purchased separately.

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Frederic-Chopin-Mazurken-Nr-6-11-12-14-16-19-22-25-26-30-31-32-35-36-40-46/hnum/7147591

That box on the whole looks very interesting..

[Antoine Marchand]

A number of Mazurcas are contained in the "Polish Chopin fortepiano" box. Can be purchased separately.

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Frederic-Chopin-Mazurken-Nr-6-11-12-14-16-19-22-25-26-30-31-32-35-36-40-46/hnum/7147591

I thought to write:

Why to get the second third place of the Chopin competition, if you can get the winner (Adam Harasiewicz)?



... but that Erard is a great bonus, indeed. 

[Verena]

I thought to write:

Why to get the second place of the Chopin competition, if you can get the winner (Adam Harasiewicz)?



... but that Erard is a great bonus, indeed. 

I actually have that box. Some of it I love, though I could not warm to his Nocturnes so far.

[Antoine Marchand]

I actually have that box. Some of it I love, though I could not warm to his Nocturnes so far.

I only have his Nocturnes (via big Brilliant box set) and I love those discs. I have planned to purchase his complete set, but I probably have too many Chopin discs.   

[Verena]

I only have his Nocturnes (via big Brilliant box set) and I love those discs. I have planned to purchase his complete set, but I probably have too many Chopin discs.   

Can there ever be too many Chopin discs ??!! 

[Antoine Marchand]

Can there ever be too many Chopin discs ??!! 

Maybe not, Verena. But his output is relatively small compared with any other of the greatest composers... And I am accustomed to deal with people like Bach and Haydn... 

[George]

Can there ever be too many Chopin discs ??!! 

[PaulSC]

I thought to write:

Why to get the second third place of the Chopin competition, if you can get the winner (Adam Harasiewicz)?

Fine, you take Dang Thai Son, I'll take Ivo Pogorelich... 

[Antoine Marchand]

Fine, you take Dang Thai Son, I'll take Ivo Pogorelich... 

Yes, I prefer Dang Thai Son, at least he will arrive to the concert... 

[PaulSC]

Yes, my point would have been more convincing 15 years ago...