Chopin: Waltzes Vittorio Forte

• Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849):
• 1 Waltz in E-Flat Major, Op. 18 "Grande valse brillante" 05:50
• 2 3 Grandes valses brillantes, Op. 34: No. 1 in A-Flat Major 05:07
• 3 3 Grandes valses brillantes, Op. 34: No. 2 in A Minor 05:58
• 4 3 Grandes valses brillantes, Op. 34: No. 3 in F Major 02:24
• 5 Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 42 04:07
• 6 Waltz in D-Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 1 "Minute" 02:02
• 7 Waltz in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2 03:47
• 8 Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 3 03:12
• 9 Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1 "L'adieu" (Ed. J. Fontana) 04:34
• 10 Waltz in B Minor, Op. 69 No. 2 (Ed. J. Fontana) 04:30
• 11 Waltz in G-Flat Major, Op. 70 No. 1 (Ed. J. Fontana) 02:12
• 12 Waltz in F Minor, Op. 70 No. 2 (Ed. J. Fontana) 03:19
• 13 Waltz in D-Flat Major, Op. 70 No. 3 (Ed. J. Fontana) 03:13
• 14 Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. Posth., B. 21 01:35
• 15 Waltz in E-Flat Major, Op. Posth., B. 46 03:00
• 16 Waltz in E Major, Op. Posth., B. 44 02:31
• 17 Waltz in E Minor, Op. Posth., B. 56 03:06
• 18 Waltz in A Minor, Op. Posth., B. 150 02:28
• 19 Waltz in F Minor, Op. 70 No. 2 (Alternative Version) 01:58
• 20 Sostenuto in E-Flat Major, Op. Posth., B. 133 01:42
• 21 Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1 "L'adieu" (Alternative Version) 03:26
• 22 Waltz in B Minor, Op. 69 No. 2 (Alternative Version) 04:34
• 23 Cantabile in B-Flat Major, B. 84 01:34
• Total Runtime 01:16:09

Info zu Chopin: Waltzes

The Waltzes are perhaps Chopin's lighter works, even though they remain distant from the world of dance-music written for the ball room. Just as his mazurkas, Chopin’s waltzes were not conceived for dancing. Chopin’s first waltz dates to 1824, when he was fourteen; the last he wrote was the last piece for solo piano he published, in 1847.

Although Chopin seems to have written many waltzes, in reality only eight were published during his lifetime (Opp. 18, 34, 42, 64); several others were lost, and some are still - sadly - in private hands.

In this album the listener will find the alternative versions of the Waltzes Op. 69 and Op. 70 No. 2. The piece marked “Sostenuto,” in 3/4, can also be considered a waltz, despite its less complex development, and was included. Italian pianist Vittorio Forte is a well-known name in France, where he has an active performance activity. His pianism is characterized by elegance, excellent control, and a marked virtuosic character.

The recording, fully natural, took place using two pairs of Brüel & Kjær microphones.

Vittorio Forte, piano

Vittorio Forte
Acclaimed for his elegant, eloquent playing, Vittorio Forte weaves his artistic path with curiosity and originality. From C.P.E. Bach or F. Couperin to the formidable transcriptions of Earl Wild, via the works of Russian composer Nikolay Medtner, each foray into a new repertoire is an experience lived in depth and with sincerity.

Born in Italy, it was at the age of seventeen that Vittorio Forte decided to devote himself entirely to music, under the guidance of Argentine pianist José Lepore. In 1998, he left Italy to settle permanently in France, where he continued his studies with Christian Favre at the HEM in Lausanne. He later joined the International Piano Academy Lake Como, where he studied with such great masters as Andreas Staier, Menahem Pressler, Fou Ts’ong and William Naboré.

Prizewinner in various competitions in Italy, Spain and Switzerland, he came to prominence with the Vlado Perlemuter Grand Prix in 2007. Since then, he has performed in several European countries, as well as in the United States and Japan, notably at the La Roque d’Anthéron Piano Festival, Festival de Radio France Montpellier Occitanie, La Folle Journée de Nantes, Chopin à Nohant, Lille Piano Festival, and in venues such as Geneva’s Victoria Hall, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, Paris’s Salle Cortot, Umea Opera House, Madrid’s Juan March Foundation and Japan’s Akita Theatre.

Since 2009, his recordings, including for the Lyrinx label, have received excellent reviews from the specialist press in many countries. Nominated for the ICMA (International Classical Music Awards) in 2014 and 2020, his recording career demonstrates the diversity of his repertoire and the originality of the programs he proposes. In 2019, Vittorio Forte signed with the Italian American Odradek label, a collaboration marked by a first album devoted to C.P.E. Bach (Joker de Crescendo, 5 Classica stars, 5 Diapasons).

His 2021 album, a tribute to the great American pianist Earl Wild through his transcriptions, was widely praised by the international press (Choix de Musiq3 RTBF, Disque du jour France Inter, Opus d’Or, Critics’ Choice International Piano Magazine…) and noted for its inventiveness, colorful poetry and elegant virtuosity. His recording of the Russian composer Nikolay Medtner, again for the Odradek label, was selected by Le Monde and awarded the “Joker” by Crescendo Magazine, the “Opus d’or” and the 5 stars by Classica magazine.

In 2016, Vittorio Forte created the C.A.P.A. (Centre d’Activités Pianistiques et Artistiques) in Montpellier, where he is in charge of a series of masterclass, as well as programming the Piano Intime season.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet