F. Chopin Impromptus 1 - 4 / Barcarolle / Etc

Chopin's Impromptus have something of a reputation as "salon music," largely because the form itself seems to imply something improvised, transient, or insignificant. But when you play them like the greatest music in the world--which is exactly what Murray Perahia does--it's hard not to believe that the music actually is the greatest in the world, or in any event so fine as to make no difference. If other pianists treat them like pieces of fluff, that's their problem. The other two pieces are singletons, Chopin's sole effort in each genre. A "Berceuse" is simply a lullaby, and Chopin's is appropriately tranquil, while Barcarolle is a boat song, and this particular example is one of the composer's very finest works. --David Hurwitz