THE REVIEWS
"...Chopin held strong opinions about the performance of his music and the directions he left in his manuscripts are so specific that it’s astonishing how far modern performance has departed from his stated intentions. Most pianists over-dramatise his music, playing it too loudly and too fast, with scant attention to phrasing and dynamics and with inappropriate pedalling. Inaccuracies have crept into some of the more readily available printed editions. Chopin experts have long sought to remedy the situation and to recapture an authentic style of playing – among them Angela Lear. Her Chopin alongside other performances, even by some of the most respected pianists, is a revelation… …hear what Chopin really intended."
"...Her Chopin recitals were altogether exceptional for perfect interpretation and maximum faithfulness to Chopin’s intentions. They will stay forever in the memory. Chopin’s music is not just music to delight or charm the ear – but more than that, to enter the spirit and touch the soul of the listener. It is poetry which expresses itself in sound as the poet expresses in words. Angela Lear made the piano speak – creating wonderful sounds from the ‘magic-box’ around which she united the friends of Chopin." (translation from French)
"...(Angela Lear’s) perfect rhythmic regularity produces the basis for the structural development of the Chopin works, particularly noticeable in her remarkable Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise… …the interpretation of this work, in its perfection, is close to the reference version of Michelangeli." (translation from French)
"...thoughtful, sensitive and full of detail. Her approach brings to mind the scrupulous sensitivity of Claudio Arrau."
"“For some years now, Angela Lear’s Chopin playing has been winning golden opinions… …recreating as faithfully as possible the composer’s intentions. Lear has a fine sense of pace and style – and this allied to an instinctive feel for the beautiful phrasing, results in performances of stature and expressivity. Just try resisting the Op.48/1 Nocturne: exquisitely shaped… …then revel in the sheer lyric line pursued in the Barcarolle. The Fantaisie Op.49 is a polished jewel and the Op.44 Polonaise for once emerges without an element of posturing or exaggeration."
"Angela Lear enshrines all that is best in Chopin playing."
"...(Sonata Op.35 – Chopin)… awesome dexterity… …equally an exquisitely poised account (Barcarolle)… …her phrasing and command of colour earned special bouquets. The Op.22 Polonaise Brilliante – an exhilarating endorsement of its title."
"...exceptional perception and eloquence… …a beautifully liquid flow. Angela Lear’s reading (of Chopin) was one of the rare, jewel like precision… …an outstanding well integrated performance."
"...Angela Lear brings a personal commitment second-to-none in her ambitions to share the beauty of Chopin’s music with the public… …Poetry and technique are combined to produce results which stand out in the memory."
"...hear what Chopin really intended."
BBC Music Magazine
Le Matin
Repertoire Magazine (France)
Classic CD Magazine
Classical Express Magazine
BBC Music Magazine
Evening Standard
The Guardian
Adam Harasowski
THE ORIGINAL CHOPIN
ANGELA LEAR RECORDINGS
Available From Libra Records Limited
Angela Lear…
“…her Chopin, alongside other performances – even by some of the most respected pianists, is a revelation… …hear what Chopin really intended.”
(performance awarded 5 stars) BBC Music Magazine
– (Vol. 3 “The Original Chopin”)
“…a symphonic spaciousness and cohesion very few pianists achieve.. …Outstandingly played – very sensitive and colourful. Deeply considered characterful performances.”
(performance awarded 5 stars) Classic CD Magazine
– (Vol.4 “The Original Chopin”)
Angela Lear gave her first important public concert at the age of twelve in the Bishopsgate Hall, London. After a period of study with Fania Schlaen, who was a violinist and close friend of the great pianist Benno Moiseiwitsch, she went to the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied with Professor Guy Jonson, a pupil of Corot. After graduating she worked privately with Louis Kentner for three years. She won the Aetna Montague Gold Medal for her performance of Ravel, which led to lessons with Nadia Boulanger, though she turned down an offer to study Ravel for a year with Boulanger in France because she would bot neglect her first love, the Music of Fryderyk Chopin.
Among the cognoscenti, Angela Lear is known as the world’s finest player of Chopin’s Music. Ironically, the fact that she spends so much time in (unpaid) research precludes her from entering the commercial establishment, where regular prominent public performance is essential. She is known by connoisseurs in Chopin Societies throughout the World and has played in the Societies of London, Casablanca, Rabat, Hannover and Warsaw. The Chopin Society of Warsaw have engaged her to play at his birthplace Zelazowa Wola, and at their Headquarters in the Ostrogski Palace, Warsaw. She has played all over the British Isles. As her fame spreads invitations are coming in from many sources, including Germany and Malta. The Polish Government have also recognised her pre-eminence in the performance of their National Composer, for they invited her to play at the Polish Embassy in London 1999 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of his death, a unique honour, both for her and for Britain. The recital was an outstanding success.
Angela is engaged in recording a complete series of Chopin, entitled The Original Chopin and published by Libra Records Limited. Each recording is based on extensive research into original manuscripts and other early sources. Volume 4 includes a definitive version of the Sonata Op.35 and contains a free CD which illustrates and discusses the research on the Sonata. The volume was given 5 stars in Classic CD magazine.
In 1996 she was awarded an Hon.M.Mus. by the University of East London for research and her performance on these recordings and in 1999 the Royal Academy of Music recognised her work by awarding her the A.R.A.M. Diploma. She regularly works with her mentors, Professors Guy Jonson and Peter Feuchtwanger, surely two of the outstanding piano pedagogues of the world, who share her enthusiasm for “The Original Chopin”.
Professor Jonson & Angela Lear...
Chopin's Birthplace...
THE ORIGINAL CHOPIN (Volume 1)
Polonaise Op.44, Nocturnes Op.27 No.2 and Op.48 No-1Fantaisie-impromptu Op.posth.(66), Fantaisie Op.49.
Barcarolle Op.60, Nocturne Op.9.No.2 (Mikuli Ed.)
Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise Op.22.
APR 5551 (rec.1993)
THE ORIGINAL CHOPIN (Volume 2)
Scherzi in B flat minor Op.31 & in C sharp minor Op.39
Bolero in A minor Op.19, Nocturne in E Op.62 No.2
Ballades In G minor Op.23, & in A flat Op.4
Mazurkas in B minor Op.33 No.4 & in A minor Op. 17 No.4
Polonaise Fantaisie in A flat Op.61
APR 5555 (rec. 1994)
Volumes 3, 4 and 5 are being produced by Libra Records Limited on the Manuscript Label
THE ORIGINAL CHOPIN - VOLUME 3
THE FIRST ISSUE BY LIBRA RECORDS
1. Ballade in F minor, Op.52 (11.02)
2. Grande Valse Brillante in E flat major, Op.18 (4.12)
3. Scherzo in B minor, Op.20 (10.16)
4. Nocturne in B major, Op.62 No.1 (6.40)
5. Polonaise in C sharp minor, Op.26 No.1 (6.17)
6. Mazurka in C minor, Op.56 No.3 (6.03)
7. Ballade in F major, Op.38 (6.52)
8. Nocturne in E flat major, Op.9 No.2
(Ed. Mikuli with 'replacement' cadenza) (5.12)
9. Polonaise in B flat minor. Op.posth. (5.08)
10. Scherzo in E major, Op.54 (11.06)
AWARDED FIVE STARS IN THE BBC RECORD MAGAZINE JANUARY 1998
Recorded on Steinway D 090 in St.George’s, Brandon Hill, Bristol, 22nd May 1995
Artistic Director: Angela Lear
Executive Producer: Colin Pryke
ISSUED BY LIBRA RECORDS ON THEIR
MANUSCRIPT LABEL No. MNU 9703
Recording Engineer & Digital Editing: Jonathan Lane
THE PRODUCERS WISH TO THANK THE FOLLOWING
FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF THIS RECORDING
REDBRIDGE MUSIC SOCIETY * JUTTA & KEITH FAGAN
LIBRA RECORDS LIMITED ANNOUNCES
(PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT CHOPIN RECORD EVER ISSUED)
THE ORIGINAL CHOPIN - VOLUME FOUR
(TWO CDs IN SLIMLINE BOX)
CD1
Sonate Funebre in B flat minor, Op.35
1.(i) Grave-doppio movimento
2.(ii) Scherzo
3.(iii) Marche Funebre
4.(iv) Finale
5. Impromptu in A flat Op.29
6. Lento con gran espressione in C sharp minor Op.Posth (K. 1215-22)
7. Nocturne in F sharp minor Op.48 No.2
8. Waltz in E flat major Op.Posthumous
9. Impromptu in F sharp major, Op.36
10. Marche Fun6bre in C minor Op.Posthumous (KI059-68) Oxford Ed.
Op.72 No.2
11. Trois Mazurkas Op.50 (1) G major (ii) A flat Major (iii) C sharp minor
12. Polonaise in A flat major Op.53 ('Heroique')
CD 2
Commentary of Sonata Op.35.
Explanations, analysis and excerpts.
Recorded on Steinway D 090 in St. George's, Brandon Hill, Bristol, 22nd May 1996
Artistic Director: Angela Lear
Executive Producer: Colin Pryke
Recording Engineer & Digital Editing: Jonathan Lane
AWARDED FIVE STARS BY CLASSIC CD MAGAZINE MARCH 1999
The Original Chopin Series...
"The Original Chopin - Volume One" price £10.00
"The Original Chopin - Volume Two" price £10.00
"The Original Chopin - Volume Three" price £10.00
"The Original Chopin - Volume Four" (Two CD Set) price £10.00
Are all currently available from Libra Records Limited. Prices, which include post and packing, apply to the U.K. only. U.K. Cheques should be made payable to "Libra Records Limited"
If you are thinking of ordering from outside the U.K. please e-mail us for a price.
Libra Records Limited...
cpmusic@compuserve.com
PO Box 1172
Ilford, Essex IG3 9HZ
United Kingdom
Tel (UK) : 0181 590 7380
Tel (Overseas) : 00 44 181 590 7380
Angela’s engagements...
Sunday 26th September
Lecture-recital on Chopin
Incorporated Society of Musicians – Annual General Meeting
Lea Valley, Essex, 3.00pm
Thursday 30th September
Chopin Recital
Milton Keynes, 7.30pm
Saturday 2nd October
Lecture-recital on Chopin
Malvern Festival, 11.00am
Saturday 9th October
Chopin Recital
St John’s, Smith Square, 7.30pm
Thursday 28th October
Chopin Recital
The London School of Economics, Houghton Street, London WC1, 7.30pm
Saturday 20th November
Chopin Recital
Ackworth Music Society, 7.30pm
Friday 17th December
Chopin Recital
Brickwall Music Society, East Essex, 7.30pm
Sunday 30th January
Chopin Recital
Upminster Theatre, Essex, 7.30pm
February – to be confirmed
Chopin Recital
Moroccan Chopin Society, Casablanca (Chopin’s birthdate concert)
20th April
Recital with Oliver Gledhill – Bach, Chopin etc.
Ilford Town Hall, 8.00pm
29th April
Accompanying baritone Carl Murray
Wansfell College, Theydon Bois, Essex
16th May
Chopin Recital
University of Salford, 1.00pm
October
Recital to include Schubert and Chopin
For Schubert Society of London, The Lancaster Hotel, Craven Terrace, W2, 3.00pm
Interesting & Useful Links...
Heart Of Genius Interesting essay by Janusz Ekiert.
The Chopin Foundation of the United States Lots of interesting material.
The London Chopin Society Lots of interesting material.
The Unofficial Chopin Home Page Useful information and links.
Chopin Year in the West Midlands 1999 sees the 150th anniversary of the death of Chopin.
Polish Consulate in Kidderminster Our Online Hosts!
Angela Lear's "The Original Chopin" is part of
This POLring site owned by
Libra Records Limited.
The Classical Music Web Ring
The free linking service hosted by Classical Music UK
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