Francis Planté (1839-1934): Chopin - Etude op.10 no.5 in Gb

Francis Planté was France's most important pianist in the nineteenth century, after Chopin. He started his concert life at age seven in Paris, where Chopin was also performing, and so heard him play. By 1850 he had won a First Prize from the Paris Conservatoire. He went on to befriend Rossini, through whom he was introduced to most of the important musical figures of the day, many of whom he got to know and with whom he formed lasting friendships. During the 1860s he duetted with both Saint-Saëns and Liszt, and established himself as the leading French pianist of the day. He was recorded at age 89, rather past his best no doubt, in a single set of specially arranged recording sessions in his own retirement villa over a few days in 1928.

His musical style has its roots in the French tradition of crisp and accurate finesse, a sort of pearly-clean touch and not vast amounts of indulgence in romantic tugging at the rhythms. He was best known for the shorter romantic works in the piano repertoire, but it is a moot point as to how much his own playing resembles that of pianists such as Chopin (when we compare him to performers such as Koczalski, Rosenthal and Pachmann for example, all of whom had attachments to the "authentic" Chopin tradition).

Here Planté plays Chopin's Etude in G flat op.10 no.5.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Francis
• Planté
• piano
• recording
• classical
• chopin
• etude
• Gb
• flat
• op.10
• no.5

[robshelrobshel]

Thank you for uploading this rarity!!!

[superbemaison]

ça me rapproche de Chopin

[bummy33]

This is the way to play this piece... there is no other way. (period) haha! but seriously what an original interpretation... Everyone seems to play it in such a mainstream manner which isn't bad but this was a nice interpretation... so unique and incandescent. I have a feeling this is how Chopin would've done it

[MaslAlek]

its so huge shame, that we will never hear Chopin playing himself his pieces...

[trschaefer]

Amazing. And at age 89, just umbelievable...

[eliyaguy]

Yes, he is wonderful wonderful. and this etude especially is an insight for me, an an unexpected aspect, I really love this interpretational suggestion

[allegrissimo]

Great clarity and supern rhythm. Luckily, speed was not a goal on its own, as occurs all the time nowadays.

[arwena55]

So powerful, masculine, self-confident performance, I am really impressed, for me 5 stars!!

[alexongcs]

I just love the way he plays....