Aleksander Wielhorski - skill characteristics
Waltz in A flat major Op. 31 No. 1 has Chopin’s inscription: Grande valse brillante. In his interpretation Aleksander Wielhorski takes this subtitle literary. He plays it fast, with great verve, lightly, bearing in mind a typical Viennese waltz to which Chopin referred in his work. Scales and runs are played with bravura and brilliance, and his left hand accompaniment underlines its triple time, slightly emphasizing the lowest bass notes. Sometimes (as in bar 93 and further similar places) the pianist seems to yield to his imagination and plays the chords arpeggio (which is not indicated in the score). The work is cheerful, but in the middle part Wielhorski introduces some reflection for a while (bars 114-129), only to return to the initial musical expression. A splendid coda (from bar 246 on) seems to be an apotheosis of the waltz. Interpretation of the whole work proves great imagination, musical sensitiveness and pianistic virtuosity of the performer; it is elegant and in good taste.
This recording was not made for commercial purposes – the label is deprived of any inscriptions and trademarks. It was probably a single recording; there are some false and missed notes.
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