RAOUL KOCZALSKI (1885-1948) has often been regarded as a controversial figure amongst the great pianists. He began his career as a child prodigy and his most important teacher was the Chopin pupil Karol Mikuli. Mikuli regarded himself as the true heir to Chopin's playing style and Koczalski was to go on to present himself in the same way. He was best known in Germany where he made his recordings, the most important of which are the complete cycles of Études, Preludes and Ballades presented here. We have a also included several other recordings from the same period including his hugely significant recording of the Nocturne Op 9 No 2, which features a much-elaborated melodic line passed down from Chopin via Mikuli. His playing certainly fits many descriptions of Chopin's own with it's emphasis on clarity, legato touch, singing line and emotional reserve, but to the next generation he sounded old fashioned. Today we can reconsider his playing in a historical context, suspend our expectations, and consider this may well be the nearest we can get to Chopin's own sound world.
