One of the nicest things about classical music is that you can closely compare two different performances of exactly the same piece.
[Arranged approximately by date of performance]
00:00 — Pollini (Warm and lyrical. He has a reputation for technicality and coldness that is not deserved.)
08:37 — Zimerman (Hushed and worshipful, occasionally rising to majesty)
17:30 — Kissin (Tender and surprisingly meditative)
26:23 — Horowitz (Scriabinesque, aching, enigmatic, some nice voicing)
35:21 — Argerich (Intimate, and as you would expect, relatively free and occasionally tempestuous.)
Chopin’s Barcarolle is one of his most important works, and is awash in harmonic innovation — the last pages descend into near-atonality, and the use of the G7 chord in the penultimate flourish is essentially a very daring tritone substitution. It is also very tricky to interpret effectively, and here 5 great performances are collected. My personal favourites are Pollini’s and Argerich’s performances but ask me on another day and my answer might be different.
