Études, Op. 10

1. No. 1 in C major

2. No. 2 in A minor

3. No. 3 in E major

4. No. 4 in C-sharp minor

5. No. 5 in G-flat major (“Black Key”)

6. No. 6 in E-flat minor

7. No. 7 in C major

8. No. 8 in F major

9. No. 9 in F minor

10. No. 10 in A-flat major

11. No. 11 in E-flat major

12. No. 12 in C minor (“Revolutionary”)

Études, Op. 25

1. No. 1 in A-flat major

2. No. 2 in F minor

3. No. 3 in F major

4. No. 4 in A minor

5. No. 5 in E minor

6. No. 6 in G-sharp minor

7. No. 7 in C-sharp minor

8. No. 8 in D-flat major

9. No. 9 in G-flat major

10. No. 10 in B minor

11. No. 11 in A minor

12. No. 12 in C minor (“Ocean”)

Trois Nouvelles Études, B.130

1. No. 1 in F minor

2. No. 2 in A-flat major

3. No. 3 in D-flat major

This recording of Frédéric Chopin’s complete 27 Études marks a major artistic statement by Hao Rao, one of the most distinctive young pianists of his generation. Produced by NCPA Classics, the album presents Chopin’s Études not merely as technical studies, but as a profound musical journey that unites virtuosity, poetry, structure, and imagination.

Recorded in June 2024 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Beijing, this album follows Hao Rao’s widely acclaimed live performances of the complete Études in Paris, Warsaw, London and other major European cities. It is his second solo album with NCPA Classics and his first studio recording, representing a significant new stage in his artistic development.

What distinguishes this release is not only the musical accomplishment of recording all 27 Études as a unified cycle, but also Hao Rao’s deep personal engagement with the repertoire. For the accompanying booklet, he wrote detailed practice reflections and interpretive notes for each Étude, sharing his technical thinking, musical insights, and personal discoveries. These writings offer rare insight into how a young artist of today approaches one of the most demanding and iconic pillars of the piano repertoire.

The album design reflects the same philosophy: restrained, modern, and elegant, with a refined visual language that mirrors the clarity and depth of the musical interpretation. The overall presentation—sound, text, and design—forms a coherent artistic statement, balancing intellectual rigor with expressive freedom.

Chopin’s Études, central to both piano pedagogy and concert performance, are here presented as a living cycle—rooted in tradition, yet spoken in Hao Rao’s own voice. This recording stands as both a tribute to Chopin’s genius and a testament to the long-term artistic vision of a pianist committed to depth, honesty, and growth.