What a heroic spirit was imbued in The frail form of Dinu Lipatti! Listening to these classic accounts of the Grieg and Schumann brought back memories of my reading an episode on the last years of his life when he continued recording faced by imminent death, a true artist in the very sense of the word.
Much has been written about these two legendary recordings that hail from EMI's vaults and they are now available at budget price, indeed true cause for rejoicing. Comparisons with Andá, Michelangeli and other great pianists are superfluous; this is Lipatti in a class of his won from first notes to last. He receives the best kind of support from Galleria and Karajan whose subsequent recording with Giesking pales into insignificance besides this highly charged interpretation of the Schumann concerto. The accompanying Chopin waltz is also a masterpiece of miniaturism that defines Lipatti's unique role as an a pianist of astounding caliber.
Read Walter Legge's famous obituary, which is included in the notes, listen to the concertos and be transported to Elysian fields where the only pursuit is joy at making music to please the Creator.
Copyright © 2002, Gerald Fenech