Well, it's been many years since I participated last time in this forum. I'm compelled to say few words now, it looks like I have to defend my review about this unfortunate recording again, only this time I guess I should do it in public. Only recently I spotted a review by Adrian Cue that questions my reasons and my tone for leaving a negative review for this frankly rather horrible recording. So, since I'm called in personally, I guess I should explain myself: I can only assume that Adrian Cue wasn't using this website back in 2004 when all hell broke lose in SA-CD.net cyber space because of fake review and marks fixing for this particular title. Very quickly after I published the review in question, a new one appeared calming that BS is a God's gift pianist and this recording is the most amazing ever recorded (not in so many words, I can't remember the exact phrasing, but I'm sure you get the drift). As it turned out, the review was copied verbatim from BS's personal website and it was referring to some live concert, not even to this CD. And it was pretty clear that the user who left it was probably Mr BS pianist himself, so the whole thing was removed when the fraud was exposed. Though, it seems that he quickly employed services of 'Leonarda' Musicologue Dr. Yvonne Grolik, a fellow audiophile I'm sure, splashing all over her envy-worthy credentials, but missing out to post any other review for any other performer featured here in the last 8 years (though to be fair, I'm sure she must be really busy lecturing about German romantics, Schumann in particular). Of course, in her ears BS is bees-knees of a pianist, and claims that: "To experience the poetic virtuosity of Burkard Schliessmann’s pianistic art is deeply satisfying". Now, after all that rather obvious review-stuffing (visibly reflected in the numbers of helpful votes, or to be precise the lack of them), Adrian Cue is questioning my credentials for writing a bad review. And he doesn't think that my review is helpful either. Fair enough, I did try really hard to explain in four long and detailed paragraphs what aspects of BS' interpretation I didn't find 'deeply satisfying'. If he disagrees with me, fair enough again, but disagreeing is not the same as 'not helpful'. Also, out of interest, why visiting Poland would anyone under the Sun give any insight into Chopin (who mostly lived in Paris)? And no, I have nothing personal against BS, but the events that happened after I published my review proved to me that he is not just a below average pianist, but that he is willing to use deception in order to heal his bruised ego and probably sell few more CDs to unsuspecting public. And yes, I know, now I sound just like I had my ego bruised too, and maybe I have - but hold on, I gotta ask Adrian Cue where in his review he actually says anything about BS' performance? I could see only two sentences referring to the actual reviewed CD, and in one of them, he is actually agreeing with me. All the rest is about wine (French wine gets 5 stars from me any day!), Harnoncourt and early music performing practices. If I'm to be dismissed as 'unhelpful' or even having a personal vendetta against a pianist I couldn't care less, at least do it with an argument or two, otherwise, you'll end up sounding a bit too 'helpful' like Dr Grolik, perish the thought.
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