I, too remember when I bought the Chopin Etudes record. Was totally blown away.
Many other sets have come out since, but none equals his.
Maurizio Pollini R.I.P.
The great Pianist died over the weekend, age 82. One of my biggest regrets during the Pandemic was a cancellation of a concert where he was scheduled to play the last 3 Beethoven Sonatas.
He had a wide repertoire, and championed a lot of modern music, but for me it will always be his Chopin. His recording of the Etudes on DG was electrifying, a mixture of beautiful poetry and overwhelming power. Op. 25/12 in particular with the almost buzz saw intensity of the left hand harmony always gets me out of my seat even after half a century of familiarity