Normally it takes me only a few measures to assess a pianist’s value in this répertoire. But it took only a few measures of op.10/1 to realize that this CD was something spécial.The technique is of a high international standard.

The sound is warm and full of color, never pushed, never banged out. The interpretations are aristocratic and poetic, yet strong enough to encompass the big moments of the music.

In général, these performances look back to the true romantic tradition as represented by such pianists of the past as Joseph Lhevinne. Very few pianists of our time have this kind of elegance and taste Ms.Bonnecaze has.


Harold C. SCHONBERG †     New York Times, critic music

Congratulations !

In this remarkable recording, Véronique Bonnecaze proves to be a gréât pianist who handles admirably the major parameters of her instrument.

To be clear : this interprétation of the studies is one fo the best we had the chance to listen to. More sensual than Pollini’s, more sensitive than Duchâble’s, more, much more reliable than Lugansky’s, it comes within the continuity of the piece’s line of references made up of Cortot and Backhaus.

The polychrome technique, the transparent flow, the scale of nuances, the pedal work (neaver too sharp nor too heavy), all of these convince inevitably, particulary in opus 10 where the pianist’s great qualities reach their full magnitude. Véronique Bonnecaze gives this feeling of obviousness, prérogative of the best ; she is one of them, without a doubt.

Piano-Magazine

Ms.Bonnecaze's artistry is impressive. She allows no mannerism or sentimality to interfere between the music and the listener and she makes no attempt to attract attention on any interesting or novel ideas she may happen to entertain.
Instead, as much as possible given their difficulty, she plays the Études exactly as they are written and the result is sheer music! The austerity of her style is not unlike Wilhelm Backhaus' as she unleashes an impressive amount of energy sourced in a deep knowledge of the big picture to bring forward the music and nothing else.


Alain Lompech, musical critic, Le Monde, Diapason

After Schumann's Carnaval which she delivered without fuss, the pianist played Chopin's Scherzo No.2 with all the vehemence which this famous piece requires, thus lighting up the most passionate facets of the work.
Then, a selection of Etudes-Tableaux by Rachmaninov allowed Véronique Bonnecaze to display the full extent of her pianistic energy.

Making child's play of all difficulties with remarkable stamina, she expressed wonderfully the visionary aspects of these works. In turn passionate, violent, excited or tragic, Rachmaninov's Études came to light as paintings of the human soul.
As an encore, in order to leave us at peace, Véronique Bonnecaze whispered a magnificent rendition of Debussy's Clair de Lune.


RESMUSICA