Courtesy of Sander Louis. Thank you!
Born in Poland and currently working mainly in the United States, pianist Magdalena Baczewska returns in spirit to her home-country with a piano recital which alternates nicely found pieces in the same genre by Chopin and Szymanowski. To arouse expectations, she chose to start with a very promising performance of a Prélude by Chopin. In his Third Ballade, the listener immediately recognizes her concentrated imagination and spontaneity. The Mazurkas are played with an aristocratic character that frees them from banality, and after a beautifully played slow introduction, the Grande Polonaise sounds proud and heroic. The same sort of adjectives can be applied for the Szymanowski pieces. It becomes clear that three of the twenty Mazurkas stem from another period (1925). These pieces belong to his last and best works and are performed here justly with a tinge of mystery. This makes a beautiful contrast with the brisk and fresh Nine Préludes from 1900. Thus unfolds a fascinating program performed on high level.