LIDIA GRYCHTOLOWNA (b 1928)
Polish pianist

Lidia Grychtolowna is virtually unknown outside he native Poland.  It appears that she has never won a major competition, though she has been a judge at three of the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition.  I doubt that she has been recorded by any other than the Polish national recording company, Muza label (Polskie Nagrania).  And yet, her playing of the few works by Chopin for which recordings are available to us is simply marvelous.

She was a pupil of the great pianist and pedagogue, Zbigniew Drzewiecki, a small sampling of whose playing is available to be heard in these pages.  Her playing is effortless, clear, and as musically satisfying as any I've heard.  Her performance of the G♭ major Impromptu is perfection. The Scherzo and Bolero show off here impeccably controlled technique and luscious tone. Her Schumann Etudes are pure musical utterances, without angst, without forced drama.  The poet speaks when she plays.  And the two pieces by Scriabin for the left hand give no hint that she is not playing with both.

Lidia Grychtolowna's is a monumental talent.  Would that there were more of it to hear.

Chopin  Impromptu in G♭ major, Op 51

recorded in the 1950s