All pianists want to tackle Chopin’s 24 Preludes. Two sets arrived together: Yundi’s, coupled with two other preludes; and Nelson Goerner’s, with Polonaise Op 44, Berceuse Op 57 and Barcarolle Op 60. Tempos vary by only a few seconds. Test preludes – as a listener, not for reasons of technique – are No 11 in B major, short, wistful, abrupt, followed by the explosive gallops of No 12 in G sharp minor and the contrasting lento of No 13 in F sharp major. There’s perhaps more grace and poetry in Yundi, who won the International Chopin competition in 2000. But Goerner was on this year’s jury: he is inside this music too. I’d narrowly opt for Yundi. Ask me again tomorrow.
