“…his playing is powerful and precise, driven by a probing intellect and executed with steely, virtually infallible fingers.”
—The New York Times
A pianist of power and precision who brings out the panoramic architecture of old and new music alike, Maurizio Pollini’s illustrious recorded legacy on the Yellow Label, which began in 1971, is celebrated this year on his 70th birthday, with three beautiful limited-edition box sets. For at least two generations, Maurizio Pollini’s fastidious technical standards, unflappable consistency, uncompromising programs of wide-ranging repertoire, and fierce determination to serve the composer first and foremost have represented the modern pianist’s gold standard.
The Art of Maurizio Pollini chronicles the breadth of Pollini’s performance and recording career, chosen personally by the artist. The 3-CD, deluxe hardcover set consists of complete works ranging from Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Chopin’s op. 25 Études to complete concertos by Beethoven and Mozart. A remarkable bonus is the 1960 performance of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto from the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw – a performance that ensured Pollini’s victory at the age of 18. On that occasion, the great Arthur Rubinstein, who was on the jury, proclaimed, “that boy plays the piano technically better than any of us.” Pollini will perform this very concerto with Charles Dutoit and the Philadelphia Orchestra on May 17th and 19th in Philadelphia, and May 18th at Carnegie Hall.
More than any other leading pianist of the second half of the 20th century, Maurizio Pollini has made a point of championing new music. The remarkable 20th Century box set includes, on 6 CDs, Pollini’s debut for the Yellow Label and works from Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Webern, Boulez, Nono, Manzoni, Schoenberg, Bartók and Debussy.
From the outset of Maurizio Pollini’s career, his name and Frédéric Chopin’s have been intimately linked. The 9-CD Chopin box includes complete recordings of Études, Préludes, Polonaises, Sonatas nos. 2 & 3, Nocturnes and much more.
Maurizio Pollini in Recital:
Sunday, April 22 at 3:00pm Boston, Symphony Hall
Sunday, April 29 at 3:00pm New York, CarnegieHall
Sunday, May 6 at 3:00pm New York, Carnegie Hall
Sunday, May 13 at 3:00pm Chicago, Symphony Center
Maurizio Pollini with Charles Dutoit and the Philadelphia Orchestra
Thursday, May 17 & Saturday, May 19 at 8:00pm Philadelphia, Kimmel Center
Friday, May 18 at 8:00pm New York, Carnegie Hall