Songs by Chopin… Many a song lover looks down on them with a bit of condescension. They seem so simple, so ˜no big deal”. One opens one’s throat and voila, they come rolling out naturally and easily.

That nothing could be further from the truth was proved not so long ago by Dawn Upshaw, surely one of the best song singers of our time. She approached them in completely the wrong way, creating an unintelligible mush that had nothing to do with the Polish genius’s beautiful melodies.

That you don’t really need to be Polish to understand them (should Schubert be sung exclusively by the Austrians and Rachmaninoff solely by the Russians?), had been proved long ago by one of the best performers of the songs, Elisabeth Söderstrom. Layla Gencer (admittedly, she was half Polish) also did an excellent job.

Elisabeth Söderstrom sings Chopin with Vladimir Askenazy (piano)

Leyla Gencer sings Chopin with Nikita Magaloff (piano):

In 2010, the ˜Chopin year” (he was born in March 1810), a recording of all his songs was made by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute ((NIFCCD 016). As performers, two of the most successful Polish singers worldwide (why did no one think of Piotr Beczala?) were engaged: Aleksandra Kurzak and Mariusz Kwiecien.

Aleksandra Kurzak with Jeff Cohen (piano):

The first thing that stands out is their obvious, natural way of singing. They left behind their Polish predecessors’ very irritating habit of pressing on the consonants – especially the  “Ł”  (sounds like the English W) had always been pronounced very unnaturally, Russian-style, before them.

I have always had my doubts about Kwiecien being a true Lieder singer (he sometimes gives song recitals) and I still have those doubts. He is an excellent actor and also does fantastic things with his voice, but sometimes it’s a bit too much. And I miss the lyricism. He also colours too little and sometimes goes over the top, like a whole cavalry of soldiers.

But Aleksandra Kurzak is simply irresistible. Her beautiful, lyrical soprano has a lovely silvery sheen, it is truly delightful. Her girlish timbre seems created for singing Chopin’s simple-sounding melodies, and her delivery is exquisite. And her voice… Ah, it simply cannot be more beautiful! If that does not make a person happy!

But don’t forget the pianist: Argentine Nelson Goerner is an excellent Chopin interpreter and an wonderful accompanist.

Bonus:
Teresa Zylis-Gara and Halina Czerny-Stefanska: