Chopin, two Études Op.25 played by Samson François

[@ceb2633]

This is absolutely lovely. Fine pianist, and the incredible Chopin. Thank you for sending this, Shela
xxxClaudia
And thank you for posting,Paul

[@MagicDonDino]

What a sublime pianista!! Thanks Juliann!!

[@JamesVaughan]

This pianist was staggeringly talented...passion indeed! Tremendous fire, backed by a formidable technique...too bad he did not manage his life better.

[@colin_rose]

hes on FIRE during winter wind! wow!!

[@ShaneTheMathGuy]

François is definitely well known among my friends.
I love his mazurka.

[@francoriva55]

Simply fantastic !!@ what a pianist !!!@

[@uhartchristian]

quel pianiste intelligent. l etude deviens une voyage dans une monde magique. le mot phantaisie ne lui etait pas inconnu.... sans s eloigner du texte il nous ammene dans une nouveau monde.

[@danali45]

François definitely had, and still has an aura, at least in France. On cheap C.Ds like "Discovering Chopin", The Greatest Masterpieces" etc., François was always featured here and there. I wonder if it is so outside France ...
Coming back to this recording, it is superb. His playing has control without losing expressiveness ... Or at least, that is what seems to me!!

[@MrLuiscastellanos]

Fantastico , 5 *****

[@HarDiMonPetit]

The sublime interpretation of Samson François transcends completely the miserable sound of this recording.

[@pianopera]

Leading a hedonistic life full of drugs, and playing Chopin's 24 Études on this level at the same time - that is asking for trouble indeed...

[@guillermobadell6]

wow !! I am speechlees

[@chrismontis]

Even if it exposes feeling, it is interesting that a performance still does not break.

[@danali45]

It seems to me that his interprétations often "match" his life to some extent. They are passionate, and it is as though he chose to shed light on the most "disturbing" elements in compositions!! For instance, some pièces by Debussy are always played as reverie, but François plays them passionately! It contributes to his aura of "artiste maudit"!

[@piespokladowy]

Super!
Thanks, Shela - for sharing....

[@cattleman6420012000]

Very interesting and nice playing.

[@chipheo24]

I have never heard this etude, the first one in this video, played so well, with a so deep passion (except the horowitz's version). The other one is great too!!

[@RH98]

He died aged 46 (I believe... I just stared at the two dates for 5 minutes whilst my brain suffered some sort of arithmetic mental block). People put this, understandably, down to his hedonistic lifestyle - drinking, drug use etc. Unless of course you are making a point about the definition of "manage his life better". I which case I'd say "good point". Sounds like a life well lived to me.

[@paulprocopolis]

François is highly regarded in the UK (as he is elsewhere I'm sure) if not perhaps being quite as 'auratic' as in France. Passionate playing indeed!

[@idasynco]

I'd need octopus appendages to have any hope of playing this complex etude!

[@looney1023]

wow i think he went up another octave with the arpeggio at the end of the first!

[@davidmoran5431]

PP - auratic is a great term

[@RH98]

This is a lovely performance, but the recording makes me feel as though my head is being turned inside out. Its no exageration to say it is causing me genuine physical discomfort. (Headphone listener, btw) Just me?

[@stefanolanza8018]

That's been sped up.

[@JanetteHeffernan]

Yummy!