Ott keeps Chopin's waltzes at a distance

Alice Sara Ott is an impressive, light-fingered pianist but her recording of Chopin's waltzes needs the personal touch

Composer: Chopin
Repertoire: Complete Waltzes
Artists: Alice Sara Ott (piano)
Rating:  3/5
Genre: Instrumental
Label: Deutsche Grammophon 477 8095

This is 21-year-old Ott’s second disc for DG. Impressive playing, well turned, light-fingered and with lovely tone and musicality. The Chopin waltzes, though, can be a little deceptive en masse. There are plenty of good recordings around and all involve a balance between fidelity to Chopin and the imprinting of an individual viewpoint. Ingrid Fliter managed this to perfection last year; Ott isn’t quite there, at least not yet. Despite some wonderful moments in the main I found the recording rather impersonal.