Frédéric Chopin - Scherzo No. 2; Four Ballades (Nicolas Economou)

Information

Composer: Frédéric Chopin

1. Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 31
2. Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
3. Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38
4. Ballade No. 3 in A-Flat Major, Op. 47
5. Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

Nicolas Economou, piano

Date: 1984 / 2026

Label: Loft Music

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This album presents a previously unreleased live recording of Cypriot pianist Nicolas Economou from the prestigious Munich Klaviersommer festival in 1984. Captured at the height of his artistic maturity, the performance features an all-Chopin programme recorded nine years before his untimely death. Economou’s interpretations of the B-flat minor Scherzo and the four Ballades display remarkable virtuosity, expressive depth, and poetic intensity, underscoring his reputation as one of the most compelling pianists of his generation. The release inaugurates a new archival series dedicated to preserving and showcasing significant historical performances of exceptional artistic value.

Nicolas Economou (1953–1993) was a Cypriot composer, pianist, and conductor born in Nicosia. He gained international recognition at the age of 16 during the 1969 Tchaikovsky Competition. Following his studies at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, he continued his career in Europe, eventually settling in Munich after a period in Düsseldorf. From there, he built a distinguished reputation as a concert pianist while also working as a composer, arranger, conductor, and festival organizer. His multifaceted musicianship earned him widespread acclaim across Europe. Economou’s promising career was tragically cut short when he died in a car accident in Cyprus in December 1993.

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