Rafael Orozco

[Holden]

Back as youngster in the LP days I started collecting LPs of music I wanted to explore and this included a Chopin phase. After acquiring the Pollini Etudes I looked to the Preludes, most of which I played at the time and World Record Club (remember them?) had a version by Orozco which I bought. The way he played them just captivated me. Nothing idiosynchratic but at the same time it seemed to be pure Chopin. Unfortunately they were never transferred to CD and while they can now be enjoyed on Youtube it's not the same.

I was sent a recital CD of this pianist recently and everything on it was so good that I have decided to explore further via Spotify. I am listening to the Rach PCs at the moment and they are very good indeed. The sample of the 2nd Chopin Scherzo was outstanding. THis is a pianist who seems, like Fiorentino, to get virtually everything he plays just right.

Searching for him on the web is complicated by the fact that there are two Rafael Orozcos, the other being a singer and even Spotify gets them mixed up.

Does anyone know of any other recordings of his that might be acquired somewhere? Once again, what a pity his Chopin Preludes were never transferred into digital format.

[Wakefield]

I am listening to the Rach PCs at the moment and they are very good indeed.

Does anyone know of any other recordings of his that might be acquired somewhere? Once again, what a pity his Chopin Preludes were never transferred into digital format.

I totally agree, those piano concertos are excellent. I have owned this twoffer for years:

[asin]B000004167[/asin]

[Mandryka]

Back as youngster in the LP days I started collecting LPs of music I wanted to explore and this included a Chopin phase. After acquiring the Pollini Etudes I looked to the Preludes, most of which I played at the time and World Record Club (remember them?) had a version by Orozco which I bought. The way he played them just captivated me. Nothing idiosynchratic but at the same time it seemed to be pure Chopin. Unfortunately they were never transferred to CD and while they can now be enjoyed on Youtube it's not the same.

I was sent a recital CD of this pianist recently and everything on it was so good that I have decided to explore further via Spotify. I am listening to the Rach PCs at the moment and they are very good indeed. The sample of the 2nd Chopin Scherzo was outstanding. THis is a pianist who seems, like Fiorentino, to get virtually everything he plays just right.

Searching for him on the web is complicated by the fact that there are two Rafael Orozcos, the other being a singer and even Spotify gets them mixed up.

Does anyone know of any other recordings of his that might be acquired somewhere? Once again, what a pity his Chopin Preludes were never transferred into digital format.

I can let you have a transfer of an LP with the four scherzos and the Berceuse and the Nocturne op 62/2, and a Prokofiev 2 from Hungary in the 1970s

[Holden]

Yes, please. I'll PM posting details.

[Sammy]

I have a Philips Solo CD of Orozco playing Schumann's Kreisleriana, Fantasy and Sonata no. 2 - all are very fine performances.  As for availability, I know that ArkivMusic has it in the ArkivCD format.

Just looked at Amazon - it's there also - prices for "used" aren't bad, "new" is very expensive.

[Mandryka]

The Chopn preludes are on youtube and I just listened to them. I like what I hear because it's pretty dry eyed, even Pollini for DG was more heart of sleeve from what I remember.