Concerti 14/08/2026: Empfindsam - Feingeistig durchleuchten Rafał Blechacz und die von Kent Nagano geleitete Dresdner Philharmonie die Tonart c-Moll in Konzerten von Mozart und Beethoven.
... In Mozarts düsterem c-Moll-Konzert sucht er immer wieder nach fein ausgeleuchteten Nuancen, er formt sensible Linien. Beim zweiten c-Moll-Konzert des Albums, Beethovens Drittem, wirkt sein Anschlag im Forte kraftvoller, in den ariosen Passagen aber ähnlich empfindsam. …. Schließlich präsentiert Blechacz auch Beethovens kompakte Variationen WoO 80 – in c-Moll. Kultiviert dämonisch! Christoph Vratz - Resenzion
Straits Times 7/02/2026: Rafal Blechacz brings passion and rapture to S’pore debut
…Schubert’s Four Impromptus Op. 90 (D. 899) - .. Blechacz sensitively brought out both Classical restraint and Romantic ardour. Clean lines tinged with melancholy defined the first and longest Impromptu (in C minor), while his dexterous right hand surmounted the vertiginous etude-like second E flat major piece.
Poetry came to the fore in the G flat major Impromptu, one with a seamless singing tone, …. Finally, feather-light filigree and more lyricism defined the fourth and final A flat major piece.
Chopin Barcarolle In F Sharp Major (Op. 60) as the gondolier’s love song built up to a rapturous climax. Similarly, in the Third Ballade In A Flat Major (Op. 47), passion was never sacrificed for the sake of mere prettiness.
In the Three Mazurkas (Op. 50), Blechacz’s instinctive feel for the ¾-time dance rhythm, with well-placed accents dotting the landscape, stood him out as quintessentially Polish. In these seemingly simple folk-like pieces, the spirit of his homeland came through most vividly.
Chopin’s Waltz In C Sharp Minor (Op. 64 No. 2), pure elegance personified, … Chang Tou Liang – Review in full
Gramophone December 2025: CHOPIN Mazurkas
... This is a digital-only recording, anticipating the release next year of the complete Chopin Mazurkas by Rafał Blechacz, … This recording contains 25 of the canonic 57 Mazurkas.
The most striking feature of Blechacz’s approach to these dances is his exquisite phrasing, always poised and graceful. He employs ample rubato, but never more than suggested by Chopin’s notation. His tempos are generally brisk, as in the exhilarating Op 41 No 2, marked Animato, yet with pellucid clarity maintained throughout. Blechacz’s reading of the C major Mazurka, Op 24 No 2, is refreshingly straightforward, with a subtle, gradually building accelerando enlivening the Trio.
… Despite the thick textures of the C minor Mazurka, Op 56 No 3, Blechacz renders the polyphony with perfect clarity, highlighting the chromatic harmonies…. One looks forward to the release of the complete Mazurkas next year. Patrick Rucker – Review in full
Resmusica 18/06/2025: Rafał Blechacz en récital au TCE
En récital au Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Rafał Blechacz étale son jeu très classieux dans un programme où Beethoven côtoie Schubert et Chopin.
Quatre Impromptus op. 90 de Schubert -… Particulièrement à partir de l'Allegro (n° 2), la virtuosité fait éclat, alliée à un style de jeu extrêmement raffiné. Ici, la vitesse des notes jouées à la main droite n'empêchent pas de mettre aussi en lumière tout ce que raconte la main gauche, avec comme chez Beethoven des enchevêtrements assez inédits dans leur façon d'apparaître. ….. l'Allegretto (n° 4) brille de mille feux.
Chopin 4 Mazurkas op. 17 que l'on profite le mieux de la délicatesse de Blechacz. Parfaitement dans son élément, …Vincent Guillemin - Article
Crescendo-magazine.be 13/02/2025: A Genève , un récital de l’étourdissant
Beethoven - Quatorzième en ut dièse mineur op.27 n.2 dite Clair de lune -…, il tire de la profondeur des basses un cantabile sobre qui se développe dans un son feutré … L’Allegretto médian a une légèreté bucolique … Schubert Quatre Impromptus op.90 - … Le sublime Troisième en sol bémol majeur laisse sourdre les larmes sur une expression pudique qui atténuera la basse grondante en irisant les aigus de la mélopée. Et c’est par une main gauche chantant comme un violoncelle qu’il soutient le jaillissement clair des gruppetti descendants du Quatrième en la bémol majeur amenant un Trio nostalgique régi par un rubato magistral. Chopin- … Barcarolle en fa dièse majeur op.60 qu’il nimbe d’un velouté ondoyant en usant savamment des deux pédales pour incorporer les abbellimenti à la ligne mélodique et profiter du doppio trillo pour l’éclaircir. …. Et c’est par le Troisième Scherzo en ut dièse mineur op.39 que s’achève ce programme exigeant. Aux octaves en rafales répondent les cascades de croches limpides comme des traits de harpe entraînant naturellement à leur suite un motif de choral qui s’amplifie avant d’être happé par un presto époustouflant qui provoque l’enthousiasme délirant du public. Avec une gaucherie presque timide, le pianiste y répond en présentant trois bis incluant notamment la Septième Valse et le Septième Prélude de Chopin. Quelle classe ! Paul-André Demierre - Article
Seen & Heard-International 24/03/2024: Stunning Chopin, Debussy and Szymanowski from Rafal Blechacz in Vancouver
...The highlight was the Polonaise-Fantasie, Op.61, which was given the most beautifully judged and concentrated rendering I have heard in concert. … It was Blechacz’s unerring control of the balance between dramatic strength and intimacy, his awareness of a darker narrative and his wonderful suspension of the softer lyrical lines that made the reading come out as so natural and complete. There was always a sense of inevitability in the music’s progress, the range of dynamics and colour was stunning and the depth of feeling at the work’s powerful conclusion was quite overwhelming. Blechacz’s dramatic power and control of intensity were consummate, and he has an artful way of imbuing lyrical phrases with a special sentiment that draws the listener in.
Chopin’s early Mazurkas, Op.6 - The naturalness of Blechacz’s rhythmic inflections and the sheer precision in his playing made each one of these four pieces a jewel. …
Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque – and what a feast of beautiful playing this was. …. ‘Clair de lune’ was exceptional: … I have rarely heard the piece as subtle in inward feeling or in phrase, and the result was treasurable. …
Szymanowski’s Variations in B-flat minor - …The colour in Blechacz’s playing was remarkable, and the power and amplitude he achieved in the coda was transcendent. … A splendid concert! Geoffrey Newman – Review in full
Vanclassicalmusic.com 13/03/2024: Another stunning recital from Rafal Blechacz
…The undoubted highlight was the Polonaise-Fantasie, Op. 61 (Chopin), which was given the most beautifully-judged and concentrated rendering I have heard in concert. … It was Blechacz’s unerring control of the balance between dramatic strength and intimacy, his awareness of a darker narrative, plus his wonderful suspension of the softer lyrical lines, that made this reading come out as so natural and complete. There was always a sense of inevitability in the music’s progress, the range of dynamics and colour was stunning, and the depth of feeling at the work’s powerful conclusion was quite overwhelming. …
Enticing in a different way were Chopin’s early Mazurkas, Op.6. The naturalness of Blechacz’s rhythmic inflections and the sheer precision in his playing made each one of these 4 pieces a jewel. …
Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque – and what a feast of beautiful playing this was. …, Blechacz opened it out to find a lovely impressionistic flow, spinning a gossamer-like texture between its bolder thematic statements, and often suspending the music in the manner of some of the composer’s more meditative later Preludes. His rubato was infinitely subtle and degree of delicacy in his fingering was remarkable.
The following Minuet was particularly attentive to variations in dynamics and captured its playfulness and intricacy very well. The inward restraint and consideration exhibited throughout Clair de lune was exceptional:…Szymanowski’s Variations in B-flat minor, Op.3 - … Each variation was characterized uniquely but the pianist fit them all into a bigger story, one that found a deep sensitivity in the more musing variations but a bracing strength and grandness overall. The colour in Blechacz’s playing was remarkable and the power and amplitude he achieved in the coda was transcendent. This is what ‘romantic’ piano playing should be like. … A splendid concert! Geoffrey Newman – Review in full
OpusKlassiek Mei 2023 : CD Chopin
Het pianospel van de Poolse pianist Rafal Blechacz (1985) heeft, althans waar het Chopin betreft, zo te horen een niet onbelangrijke ontwikkeling doorgemaakt, met als consequentie dat die voor de een wel en voor de ander (mogelijk) geen rijpe vruchten heeft afgeworpen. Waar vriend en vijand het ongetwijfeld wel over eens zullen zijn is dat Blechacz zich in zijn spel altijd heeft onderscheiden als een musicus die grote virtuositeit wist te paren aan navenante muzikaliteit: puur technisch klatergoed was nooit aan hem besteed.
…Blechacz' benadering grijpt - zij het met de nodige gradaties - weliswaar terug op een reeds lang vervlogen tijd, maar met dien verstande dat hij vasthoudt aan de verworvenheden van het hedendaagse pianospel, met als uitkomst een helder betoog dat ruimte laat voor een zekere mate van vrijheid. Mij heeft het van begin tot eind overtuigd, en niet in de laatste plaats omdat Blechacz' structuurbesef zijn intelligente aanpak van deze muziek alleen maar onderstreept. Dat is wat helaas aan menige zogenaamd 'vrije' vertolking ontbreekt. De opname is net zo helder als het pianospel. Een sublieme Chopin-uitgave wacht op u! Aart van der Wal - Recensie
FonoForum 27/03/2023 : CD Chopin
...Wer einen spektakulären oder individuell ausscherenden Chopin sucht, wird ihn hier nicht finden. Dafür ist Blechacz zu ernsthaft und von seinem Weg überzeugt. Recht so. Sein Klavierspiel kennt so viele Nebenpfade, dass es Extravaganz nicht braucht. Wenn er etwa in diesem ersten Satz das zweite Thema singt, klingt das nach Chopin pur: bel canto am Klavier. Christoph Vratz - Resenzion
Gramophone 17/03/2023 : CD Rafał Blechacz: Chopin
Blechacz is simply a great Chopin player. You might disagree about some of his choices (dynamics, phrasing, etc) but what he gives you is his compatriot’s music in robust, intense and heartfelt performances …. The B flat minor Second Sonata, especially, after a magisterial opening announcement, unfolds as a tragic tale in which the famous Funeral March is its inevitable outcome (the way Blechacz transitions from the end of the Scherzo to this movement is quite masterly). The first-movement repeat from the doppio movimento bar is as convincing as I have ever heard it. The swirling triplets of the finale, while by no means the most fleet on disc, are among the most musically expressed.
The B minor Third Sonata, another red-blooded, dramatic reading offset by his beautiful handling of the opening Allegro maestoso’s bel canto second subject. The Scherzo is spectacular in its speed and crisp articulation, … The recital ends with the Barcarolle, a final reading achieved, like all the others on this outstanding recording, only by long association and deep affection. Jeremy Nicholas – Review in full
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