Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Dinu Lipatti
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Alexandre Bak
Release: 2023
Size: 1.2 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. Applause and Opening Arpeggios in B-flat Major
Bach: Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major, BWV 825:
02. I. Praeludium
03. II. Allemande
04. III. Courante
05. IV. Sarabande
06. V. Menuets I & II
07. VI. Gigue
08. Speaker’s presentation, Applause and Opening Arpeggios in B-flat Major and E Dominant seventh chord
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K. 310
09. I. Allegro maestoso
10. II. Andante cantabile con espressione
11. III. Presto
12. Speaker’s presentation, Applause and Opening Arpeggios in A minor to D-flat Dominant seventh chord
Schubert: 4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899
13. No. 3 in G-flat Major
14. No. 2 in E-flat Major
15. Speaker’s presentation, Applause and Opening Arpeggios in E-flat Major
16. Chopin: Waltz No. 5 in A-flat Major, Op. 42
17. Chopin: Waltz No. 6 in D-flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1 “Minute”
18. Chopin: Waltz No. 9 in A-flat Major, Op. Posth. 69, No. 1 “Farewell”
19. Chopin: Waltz No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2
20. Chopin: Waltz No. 11 in G-flat Major, Op. Posth. 70, No. 1
21. Chopin: Waltz No. 10 in B minor, Op. Posth. 69, No. 2
22. Chopin: Waltz No. 14 in E minor, Op. Posth.
23. Chopin: Waltz No. 3 in A minor, Op. 34, No. 2
24. Chopin: Waltz No. 4 in F Major, Op. 34, No. 3
25. Chopin: Waltz No. 12 in F minor, Op. Posth. 70, No. 2
26. Chopin: Waltz No. 13 in D-flat Major, Op. Posth. 70, No. 3
27. Chopin: Waltz No. 8 in A-flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3
28. Chopin: Grande Valse Brillante in E-flat Major, Op. 18
Dinu Lipatti’s Last Recital: A Testament to Artistic Immortality
Dinu Lipatti, the legendary Romanian pianist, remains a towering figure in the world of classical music. His artistry, characterized by purity of tone, profound musical insight, and emotional depth, reached its poignant culmination in his final recital on September 16, 1950, at the Besançon International Music Festival in France. This performance, delivered amidst debilitating illness, is revered not only for its extraordinary musicality but also for its testament to human resilience and dedication to art.
Lipatti was gravely ill with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the time of the recital, yet his playing betrayed no weakness. The program included works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert, and Chopin, each rendered with ethereal clarity and an unparalleled sense of structure. Lipatti’s interpretation of Bach’s Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major radiated spiritual transcendence, while his rendition of Schubert’s Impromptus was imbued with a poignant lyricism that seemed to echo his own fleeting existence.
The recital’s emotional zenith came with Chopin’s Waltzes, showcasing Lipatti’s unparalleled command of phrasing and dynamics. However, his health failed him before he could perform Chopin’s A-flat Major Polonaise, a planned encore. Instead, Lipatti concluded with Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, a choice that resonated deeply with the audience, embodying a sense of peace and acceptance.
Lipatti passed away less than three months later, at the age of 33, leaving a legacy of recordings that continue to inspire. His last recital is remembered as a profound expression of artistic devotion, transcending physical suffering to communicate the eternal beauty of music. It remains a powerful reminder of the indomitable spirit of an artist who, in the face of mortality, offered the world a glimpse of the divine.