Composers such as
Chopin, who wrote a large number of short, stand-alone pieces, are ideally suited for compilation albums such as this one since listeners aren't jilted out of hearing complete works. The program on this CD overall provides a representative sample of
Chopin's oeuvre with two notable exceptions -- the mazurka and the nocturne, forms that
Chopin was almost single-handedly responsible for making famous, are completely absent. There's also a peculiar transcription of the Op. 28/4 Prelude for piano trio.
Chopin did actually compose a piano trio, so why not include that instead of an unnecessary and poorly performed transcription? Pianist
Richard Tilling gives his audience anything but "The Best of
Chopin." His execution is quite sloppy and labored in busy passages, and he blasts through phrase endings and transitions with no rubato or panache. Attacks are quite angular, even in passages that should be legato and velvety. The recorded sound of his instrument is also unsatisfactory; it sounds much more like a player piano than anything else, with almost no bass presence. Listeners who are truly seeking "the Best" of what this composer had to offer should sidestep this recording and invest in some performances by
Rubinstein or
Pollini instead.