Elias's technique does not overshadow the inherent warmth and romanticism of 19th century classical music without sounding sentimental.

34 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Chopin, CLASSICAL: Keyboard Music

Show all album songs: Monique Elias plays Chopin, Mendelssohn, Szymanowski Songs


Details:
Monique Elias is a Dutch pianist trained in the "Horowitz style" tradition of eastern Europe. She is a very versatile pianist who can really make the listener hear the distinction between the different composers and the style they represent. In this CD she has brilliantly captured the then avant-garde style of Chopin that we now refer to as "romantic" in contrast to the "classical" style of Mendelsohn even though both composers lived at the same time.
Then again, the style of Szymanowski is very different from Chopin with his long phrases and big sonorities, more in the style of Rachmaninoff.
Any classical music lover would revel in these distinctions that paint such a different oral picture. It takes a sensitive pianist to pull this off successfully. Monique Elias's technique of playing has been compared to that of Alicia de la Rocha.
For classical music teachers this CD would be an excellent eample for the illustration of these different musical periods.