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December 26, 2025
Radu Lupu: The Unreleased Recordings album review
(Decca, six CDs)This six-disc collection to mark the late pianist’s 80th birthday is full of treats and includes rare ventures into Chopin and Copland, along with Lupu’s legendary rendition of Bartók at Leeds in 1969
TL;DR
- A new six-disc collection of unreleased recordings by pianist Radu Lupu has been released by Decca.
- The recordings date from 1970 to 2002 and include studio sessions, BBC, Dutch, and SWR radio tapes.
- The set features works Lupu did not otherwise record, such as Mozart's G minor and E flat piano quartets, Schubert sonatas (D840, D850), Haydn and Mozart sonatas, Schumann's Études Symphoniques, Chopin's B minor Scherzo, Bartók's Out of Doors, Copland's Sonata, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
- The collection highlights Lupu's distinctive playing style, characterized by velvety tonal beauty and profound musical intelligence.
- Lupu, who died in 2022 at 76, was a highly celebrated pianist, known for his unique approach and captivating performances.
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