Chopin: 24 Preludes / Barcarolle / Fantaisie

The Preludes are not little jewels arranged side by side; they form a whole, a gigantic work. Each prelude, however brief it may be, presents a particular mood and constitutes a world in itself. We are dealing here with twenty-four 'psychological studies', twentyfour states of mind: humanity, joy, rage, heroism, defeat, triumph, love, nostalgia, sadness, hope, resignation, and so on - all of them feelings with which Chopin was perfectly familiar. Joaquín Achúcarro waited a long time before recording the Preludes because he wanted to have the impression that he had totally assimilated them, to the extent that they became, so to speak, a part of his subconscious; almost like establishing a friendship with a living being. From that point on, he was ready to go into the recording studio.