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3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 widely neglected classic Apr 10, 2007
Fou Ts'ong was the first pianist from China to gain recognition in the west. He came out of nowhere and won the separate mazurka prize and honorable mention at the Chopin Competition in Warsaw in '55. He moved to London and has had a very productive career as a performer, recording artist, and teacher.
Ts'ong never caught on in the States. But you should judge for yourself. Ts'ong is not just a good, obscure pianist, but a major talent. He may have had trouble gaining acceptance because he is at his best when he does away with tradition, as in the mazurkas. This set should be in every classical piano library, hands down, despite the short shrift he has received by critics like David Dubal.
Ts'ong's mazurkas come out segmented and multi-tiered, as if he were playing a Beethoven sonata. Many of them are considerably longer than the average performance. One gets the impression that he doesn't know these are supposed to be miniatures. (of course he knows.) They are expansive, scenic, and full of dynamic extremes. The mazurkas? you say. Yes, the mazurkas. His intuitive sense of the stuttering 3/4 mazurka rhythm is also phenomenal, as the jury of the '55 Chopin Competition undoubtedly recognized. Not only are these recordings a pleasure to listen to (I have field tested them where I work--in a bookstore) but I have yet to hear an interpretation that is at all like them. This isn't just high-quality piano playing. There are a lot of high-quality interpretations of Chopin's mazurkas. I'm saying Ts'ong's set has something unique, not better or worse, but different.
Just for the record, I have no idea what the person here is talking about who said the piano sound was terrible. What is that guy talking about? I don't know.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Beautiful playing, just how Chopin should be played. Oct 14, 2004
I first heard of Fou Ts'ong through hearing that he had criticized Yundi Li, the now well established pianist, and his playing of Chopin. Both Ts'ong and Yundi Li were winner of the Chopin Competition, yet Ts'ong was the older of them. He had criticized Yundi Li, and I was curious if he really considered himself such a great Chopin interpreter based on his opinions. I took this CD out from my library, and I was in for a pleasant surprise. This CD set is perfect. The playing is just how Chopin should be played. You can feel the aristrocratic air of the pieces flowing out, yet you can still hear subtle tones of sentimentality, combined together to make the unique sound Chopin requires. Fou Ts'ong is not afraid to add rubato, and isn't afraid of taking it away without detracting from the piece. He keeps the pieces original, yet he makes them sound like something new. Along with the great playing, the small booklet that comes with the CDs has probably the greatest mini-biography of Chopin I have ever read. In fact, it's probably the greatest mini-biography I've ever read of anyone. The language is colorful and beautiful. But not to digress, these CDs are must own. The playing is amazing, by an interpreter and pianist who is not heard of much in these days.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Very Nice CD Aug 23, 2003
I've heard a lot of players playing Chopin's Mazurkas. I believe this is one of the best I heard. Tsong's interpretation is absolutely wonderful and clear. I've heard from Tsong's playing the richness and all the nuances I expect from Chopin's Mazurkas and I haven't heard in other players.
One of the reasons I'm writing this review is I didn't agree with one review I read, talking about the sound of the piano. The sound of the piano is very acceptable. I didn't see problems... only pleasure.
I strongly recommend this CD.
3 of 12 found the following review helpful:
 Good playing, bad piano Aug 16, 2001
Too bad... some stylish and tasteful playing here is badly marred by a really ugly-sounding piano. Why an obviously intelligent artist would record on such a piece of garbage is a mystery to me. The piano sounds harsh and steely, quite the opposite of the lovely Pleyels Chopin is known to have preferred. If one could get past the ugly piano, Tsong's playing would rank near a 4-star. I'll wait for Pires or Abbey Simon to record the Mazurkas, then I'll get rid of this set.
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