Chopin in Bloomington, MN

Pianist
Janne Mertanen
has been around since the turn of the century, recording thoughtful interpretations of
Chopin
and Scandinavian music on smaller labels, but when this
collection appeared on
Sony Classical
in 2023, he had only recently been signed to the label. So perhaps he still qualifies as an up-and-comer.
Mertanen
put out an acclaimed pairing of the
concertos several years ago, and on this release, he also sticks to larger forms with the
Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
, a pair Impromptus, the
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
, and the
Barcarolle in F sharp minor, Op. 60
. These are all later
works, displaying the characteristic complexity of his music toward the end of his life.
's readings are rich, with many textures. Perhaps the most persuasive are the two Impromptus, which seem to have a hidden narrative in a way that
's audiences would have appreciated, but all the works are varied. The big
Ballad
and
Barcarolle
feature subtle application of the pedals in passagework, leading the listener into a dreamlike landscape. The main attraction is the
Piano Sonata No. 3
, where the detail in
's reading may reveal new things in the music over multiple hearings. Consider the opening gesture, which in
's hands has an almost Brahmsian quality in its pregnancy of implication. This is a major
release from a pianist who deserves wider recognition, and it was among the special pleasures among recordings of late 2023. ~ James Manheim