Brillantes

brillantes

Track Listings

1. Tres Palabras

2. Que Se Mueran de Envidia

3. Jamas, Jamas

4. Solamente una Vez

5. Mujer

6. Limosnero de Amor

7. Escándalo

8. Humo en los Ojos

Brillantes,Javier Solis,Sony International,Latin,Latin Pop,Latin Pop/Rock,Mexican,Tejano

Brillantes

Average customer rating:

My experience of this CD
Beautiful!
Well worth the money. Wonderful! Wonderful!
Best investment to make
A great pianist interpreting the most inspired composer ever !

Chopin: The Piano Works

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bourees | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ecossaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Galops | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Liszt: Piano Works
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Works for Solo Piano
Mozart: The Piano Concertos

ASIN: B0000041KB
Release Date: 1997-06-24

Tracks:

24 Preludes, Op.28: I - C Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: II - A Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: III - G Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: IV - E Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: V - D Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: VI - B Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: VII - A Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: VIII - F Sharp Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: IX - E Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: X - C Sharp Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XI - B Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XII - G Sharp Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XIII - F Sharp Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XIV - E Flat Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XV - D Flat Major 'Raindrop'
24 Preludes, Op.28: XVI - B Flat Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XVII - A Flat Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XVIII - F Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XIX - E Flat Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XX - C Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XXI - B Flat Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XXII - G Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XXIII - F Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XXIV - D Minor
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.45
Prelude In A Flat Major
Impromptu In A Flat Major, Op.29
Impromptu In F Sharp Major, Op.36
Impromptu In G Flat Major, Op.51
Fantaisie-Impromptu In C Sharp Minor, Op.66

Tracks:

Ballade No.1 In G Minor, Op.23
Ballade No.2 In F Major, Op.38
Ballade No.3 In A Flat Major, Op.47
Ballade No.4 In F Minor, Op.52
Scherzo No.1 In B Minor, Op.20
Scherzo No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.31
Scherzo No.3 In C Sharp Minor, Op.39
Scherzo No.4 In E Minor, Op.54

Tracks:

3 Nocturnes, Op.9: I - B Flat Minor
3 Nocturnes, Op.9: II - E Flat Major
3 Nocturnes, Op.9: III - B Major
3 Nocturnes, Op.15: I - F Major
3 Nocturnes, Op.15: II - F Sharp Major
3 Nocturnes, Op.15: III - G Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.27: I - C Sharp Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.27: II - D Flat Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.32: I - B Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.32: II - A Flat Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.37: I - G Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.37: II - G Major

Tracks:

2 Nocturnes, Op.48: I - C Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.48: II - F Sharp Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.55: I - F Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.55: II - E Flat Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.62: I - B Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.62: II - E Major
Nocturne In E Minor, Op.72 No.1
Nocutrne In C Sharp Minor
Nocturne In C Minor

Tracks:

12 Etudes, Op.10: I - C Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: II - A Minor
12 Etudes, Op.10: III - E Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: IV - C Sharp Minor
12 Etudes, Op.10: V - G Flat Major 'Black Key'
12 Etudes, Op.10: VI - E Flat Minor
12 Etudes, Op.10: VII - C Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: VIII - F Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: IX - F Minor
12 Etudes, Op.10: X - A Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: XI - E Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: XII - C Minor 'Revolutionary'
12 Etudes, Op.25: I - A Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.25: II - F Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: III - F Major
12 Etudes, Op.25: IV - A Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: V - E Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: VI - G Sharp Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: VII - C Sharp Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: VIII - D Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.25: IX - G Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.25: X - B Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: XI - A Minor 'Winter Wind'
12 Etudes, Op.25: XII - C Minor

Tracks:

2 Polonaises, Op.26: I - C Sharp Minor
2 Polonaises, Op.26: II - E Flat Minor
2 Polonaises, Op.40: I - A Major
2 Polonaises, Op.40: II - C Minor
Polonaise In F Sharp Minor, Op.44
Polonaise In A Flat Major, Op.53
Polonaise-fantaisie In A Flat Major, Op.61

Tracks:

3 Polonaises, Op.71: I - D Minor
3 Polonaises, Op.71: II - B Flat Major
3 Polonaises, Op.71: III - F Minor
Polonaise In B Flat Minor
Polonaise In G Flat Major
Polonaise In G Minor
Polonaise In B Flat Major
Polonaise In A Flat Major
Polonaise In G Sharp Minor

Tracks:

Waltz In E Flat Major, Op.18
3 Waltzes, Op.34: I - A Flat Major
3 Waltzes, Op.34: II - A Minor
3 Waltzes, Op.34: III - F Major
Waltz In A Flat Major, Op.42
3 Waltzes, Op.64: I - D Flat Major
3 Waltzes, Op.64: II - C Sharp Minor
3 Waltzes, Op.64: III - A Flat Major
2 Waltzes, Op.69: I - A Flat Major
2 Waltzes, Op.69: II - B Minor
3 Waltzes, Op.70: I - G Flat Major
3 Waltzes, Op.70: II - F Minor
3 Waltzes, Op.70: III - D Flat Major
Waltz In E Minor (1830)
Waltz In E Major (1829)
Waltz In A Minor (?1843)
Waltz In A Flat Major (1827)
Waltz In E Flat Major ('Sostenuto', 1840)
Waltz In E Flat Major (1829 - 1830)

Tracks:

4 Mazurkas, Op.6: I - F Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.6: II - C Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.6: III - E Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.6: IV - E Flat Minor
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: I - B Flat Major
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: II - A Minor
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: III - F Minor
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: IV - A Flat Major
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: V - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.17: I - B Flat Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.17: II - E Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.17: III - A Flat Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.17: IV - A Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.24: I - G Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.24: II - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.24: III - A Flat Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.24: IV - B Flat Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.30: I - C Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.30: II - B Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.30: III - D Flat Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.30: IV - C Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.33: I - G Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.33: II - D Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.33: III - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.33: IV - B Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.41: I - C Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.41: II - E Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.41: III - B Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.41: IV - A Flat Major

Tracks:

3 Mazurkas, Op.50: I - G Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.50: II - A Flat Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.50: III - C Sharp Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.56: I - B Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.56: II - C Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.56: III - C Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.59: I - A Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.59: II - A Flat Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.59: III - F Sharp Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.63: I - B Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.63: II - F Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.63: III - C Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.67: I - G Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.67: II - G Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.67: III - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.67: IV - A Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.68: I - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.68: II - A Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.68: III - F Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.68: IV - F Minor
Mazurka In A Minor ('a Emile Gaillard', 1840)
Mazurka In A Minor ('Notre temps', 1840)
Mazurka In B Flat Major (1826)
Mazurka In G Major (1826)
Mazurka In A Flat Major (1834)
Mazurka In C Major (1833)
Mazurka In B Flat Major (For Alexandra Wolowska, 1832)
Mazurka In D Major (1832)
Mazurka In D Major (?1820)
Mazurka In F Minor, Op.68 No. 4 - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: I - Grave - Doppio movimento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: II - Scherzo
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: III - Marche funebre
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: IV - Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: I - Allegro maestoso
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: II - Scherzo: Molto vivace
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: III - Largo
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: IV - Finale: Presto, non tanto
Fantaisie In F Minor, Op. 49

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: I - Allegro maestoso
Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: II - Minuetto - Trio
Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: III - Larghetto
Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: IV - Finale: Presto
Variations sur un air national allemand - E Major (1826)
Rondo In C Minor, Op.1
3 Ecossaises, Op.72 No.3: I - D Major; II - G Major; III - D Flat Major
Rondo 'a la Mazur' In F Major, Op.5
Marche funebre In C Minor, Op.72 No.2
Contredanse In G Flat Major (?1827) - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Rondo In C Major, Op.73 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Variations In D Major For Piano Duet (1826) - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Tracks:

Variations In A Major ('Souvenir de Paganini', 1829)
Variations brillantes In B Flat Major, Op.12
Rondo In E Flat Major, Op.16
Bolero In A Minor, Op.19
Cantabile In B Flat Major
Variation In E Major
Largo In E Flat Major
Allegro de concert In A Major, Op.46
3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): I - F Minor
3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): II - A Flat Major
3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): III - D Flat Major
Tarentelle In A Flat Major, Op.43
Fugue In A Minor (1841 - 42)
Albumblatt in E Major (1843)
Op.74 No.2: Wiosna - Spring
2 Bourrees (1846): I - G Minor; II - A Major
Galop Marquis
Berceuse In D Flat Major, Op.57
Barcarolle In F Sharp Major, Op.60

Customer Reviews:

My experience of this CD.......2007-04-04

My hats off to this CD collection! It was worth it!!! Chopin is a true genius for the piano, on this collection.

Beautiful!.......2006-08-18

This is a beautifully played collection of Chopin's work. It was a birthday gift,
and I listen to bits of it every day. I have yet to find a favorite
CD, as each is so lovely. It is well worth the price.

Well worth the money. Wonderful! Wonderful!.......2006-06-10

I am not a classical music expert but I am an expert when it comes to a great product. I have listened to the works of rubenstein and Horowitz, but nothing is comparable to this great collection of polands favorite son. The nocturnes are dreamy and romantic. The other pieces though not as mesmerizing have plenty of depth and feeling. This is a collection that you will listen to over and over again. Although this music is great anytime, it's especially meaningful during a light rainfall. Go ahead and make this investment. It's only $100.00. For the next 100 days save a dollar and you will have it paid for. I promise you won't be sorry. Excellent! Excellent!

Best investment to make.......2006-05-21

In my opinion, this is the apex of classical music. You will not find a better CD for Chopin or any piano recordings. There may be plenty of comparable CDs, but nothing can claim to surpass this.

Although some pieces are not as good as those by other artists, Ashkenazy's interpretations of Chopin are the best I've ever heard. Add in his amazing technical performance and you've got some sublime music.

Listening to these pieces have immensely helped my own Chopin reportoire. I don't play to mimic Ashkenazy, but I use his insights and apply my own style over that and end up with something exponentially better than what I could produce on my own.

The price is something you have to seriously consider. A hundred bucks. Yeah, that's a lot of money, but that's 48 cents per song. And you'll listen to these songs dozens of times, at least, I guarantee. Plus it's a great deal... if you were to get all the Ashkenazy-Chopin CDs available on Amazon, overlapping pieces as little as possible, you'd pay $30 more and still not have everything.

This is an investment for life and will definitely remain one of my favorite CD sets for decades. Decades. A hundred bucks for decades of amazing music. This stuff is larger than today, larger than life.. music this good is something you can't afford to pass up because of temporary financial difficulties.

A great pianist interpreting the most inspired composer ever !.......2005-09-15

Lets imagine that Chopin himself has recorded his own compositions in a perfectly clear CD. I am sure that some classical music reviewers would say "This is not the way Chopin is meant to be played". These classical music "pundits" are very intolerant.

Interpretation and emotion feeling is also a matter of taste, so that the only one who can give a final answer is Franois (Frederic).

Ashkenazy is gifted with a phenomenal technique, a great pianist. So that this collection is for sure 5 stars. Enjoy it.

Ah, if you like to see piano technique in action, listen to Georgy Cziffra's interpretation of Etude op. 10 no. 4. (Search the album in my reviews.)

Average customer rating:

A well chosen album title
Happy Birthday by Gidon Kremer
A perfect birthday gift
Jest with Zest
I want to play the variations myself!

Happy Birthday
Gidon Kremer , and Kremerata Baltica
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Kremerland
Vivaldi and Piazzolla: Eight Seasons
From My Home: Music from the Baltic Countries
Silencio
After Mozart

ASIN: B00006JP2B
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

Polka
Thema
Variation Nach Joseph Haydn
Variation Nach Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Variation Nach Ludwig Van Beethoven
Variation Nach Johannes Brahms
Variation Nach Robert Schumann
Variation Nach Antonin Dvorak
Polka/Valse
Variation Im Stil Von Filmmusik
Ragtime
Tango
Czardas
Adagio
Allegretto
Ad Libitum
Allegro. Presto
Variations Brillantes Et Concertantes Sur L'air 'God Save The King,' Op.38
Elegy
McMozart's Eine Kleine Bricht Moonlicht Nicht Musik
I. Eine Kleine Nichtmusik
II. Moonlight Concerto
III. Chaconne A Son Gout
IV. Hommage To Shostakofiev
Souvenir

Amazon.com

To celebrate its sixth anniversary as an ensemble, Kremerata Baltica presents a light, loving, and musically interesting confection. After an opening polka by Schnittke (who knew he could be so frothy?), we get 11 variations on the song "Happy Birthday" by Peter Heidrich, à la Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, and some dance movements. Delightful. Elsewhere, Franz Waxman's Variations on "Auld lang syne" are as clever as they are unexpected and charming. More variations--this time on "God save the King" by the 19th century composers Ghys and Servais--afford Kremer and cellist Marta Sudraba a fine time, and Teddy Bor's brief riff on Mozart's omnipresent "Eine kleine nachtmusik" is a hoot. There's more, but the point is made: Classical music can be fun and sophisticated, and Kremer and his group remain virtuosi, one and all. --Robert Levine

Album Description

These young Baltic musicians possess a vivid spectrum of string color, thoroughly polished execution, and a direction of effort in service to the composer... There is no violinist with greater versatility and commitment to musical truth than Kremer. Slipcase. Nonesuch. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

A well chosen album title.......2007-01-10

I was desperately looking through the internet for a tango "happy birthday" and the tune was there, in this album. After I purchased the cd, I read the booklet included and there I found mentioned that "the album's title is not merely a reference to the popular tune, but a celebration of the ensemble's anniversary". So, I was happy to have finally found a tango "happy birthday" but I was also disappointed because this was not the playful album I was looking forward to listen to.
But this is a bit unfair for this excellent orchestra.
If what you are looking for is innovations on the romantic classicals... well this could be it. The point is that this is an album for listeners who know their way into classical music.
Other than that I should suggest that innovation regarding any classical music "playful" album would be to capture the listener's interest with more daring ways than that.

Happy Birthday by Gidon Kremer.......2007-01-09

This is a nice "classic" touch for any birthday celebration--great musical treatment of a most familiar tune!

A perfect birthday gift.......2006-01-26

I bought it out of my own devotion to Gidon Kremer and another one for a food friend's birthday. Kremer never let me down. This is another outstanding CD and a perfect birthday gift, even for non-classical lovers. However, to be very honest, I am not totally satisfied with all the tracks but still it's highly recommended. I would say it is an almost-must-have for your CD shelf. The variation of the traditional 'Happy Birthday' is fantastic if not too commercial.

Jest with Zest.......2005-11-26

If you enjoy parodies, this will be the perfect album for you. The jokes played on the various composers are amusing and refreshing, especially for music students who bore their brains out analysing these composers. Take a fresh view and enjoy! Even though they may seem meaningless initially, they grow onto you soon enough; and you will start asking - why not?

I want to play the variations myself!.......2004-07-22

My God...I will be too grateful to anyone who can show me where I can get the printed music of the "Happy Birthday" variation ....

Average customer rating:

A smile in the mind...
Magnificent music making!

Face à face: Duos for Violin & Cello

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Inventions
Haydn: Cello Concertos
Brahms: Piano Trios
Ravel: Sonatas & Trio
Franck: Violin Sonata; Rachmaninov: Cello Sonata

ASIN: B00008ODZJ
Release Date: 2003-07-08

Tracks:

Passacaille After Handel
Duo Op. 7
Duo Op. 7
Duo Op. 7
Sonate Pour Violon & Violoncelle
Sonate Pour Violon & Violoncelle
Sonate Pour Violon & Violoncelle
Duo
Duo
Duo
Duo
God Save The King Op. 38

Amazon.com

This is a recording to induce smiles of incredulity, admiration, and delight. The Capuçon brothers are dazzling virtuosos who revel in their technical prowess with unabashed, sometimes mischievous relish; their tone is simply gorgeous: rich, vibrant, and intense, and they have the impetuosity, exuberance and abandon that befits their youth. (Renaud was born in 1976, Gautier in 1981, in Chambery, France.) The recording is designed to display every aspect of their matchless virtuosity, but equally astonishing are their uncanny rapport and unanimity and the homogeneity of their tone: they trade phrases and take over lines literally imperceptibly, and at times, especially when the cellist plays high up on the A and the violinist on the G-string, one cannot tell which instrument is playing what. The program includes a world premiere: Eric Tanguy's Sonata, written for the brothers and tailored to their strengths: two marathon run-around movements flanking a dark, passionate, slow one, all full of close interplay between the instruments. Kodály's familiar, very difficult Duo, played with great idiomatic empathy, unbridled temperament and mournful lamentation, exploits all the instruments' resources of colors and sound effects. The less familiar Duo by Erwin Schulhoff is equally difficult; with its wildly contrasting moods, abrupt changes of character and improvisatory freedom it has a powerful emotional impact. The program begins and ends with brilliant fireworks: Handel-Halvorsen's "Passacaglia," tossed off with playful nonchalance, and "Variations brillantes sur God Save the King," by two virtuosos: violinist Joseph Ghys and cellist Adrien Servais. (It is tempting to imagine that each wrote his own part.) Prefaced by a solemn, operatic Introduction, the five variations are the last word in acrobatics; the pyrotechnics are so incredible that the piece sounds like a parody of its own genre. Naturally, the playing is absolutely stunning. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

A smile in the mind..........2003-09-12

Refreshingly interesting programming combined with virtuosic music-making makes this one of the few "must-have" classical albums of the year (2003). No re-hashes here...it's all new to the ear (well, my ear). and the sense of ensemble between these two brothers is uncanny and breathtaking, underscored throughout by a sly sense of wit...merry, witty and just plain fun! BUY THIS CD...you'll love it and you'll be supporting some darned interesting upcoming new talent! P.S. The liner notes and photos are subtley hilarious...very well put-together package.

Magnificent music making!.......2003-07-18

The playing and music making on this disc are magnificent. The Capuçon brothers are virtuosos of the first rank, but more importantly they are incapable of playing an unmusical or uninteresting note. They speak with one voice when called upon, but are perfectly willing to engage one another in heated musical dialogue in the Kodaly and Tanguy. The performance of the Kodaly is especially wonderful. Technical perfection, panache, an infinite pallete of colors and amazing musicianship: what more could you want in a cd? I urge you to buy this cd and all others by these remarkable young brothers, especially their Ravel disc.

Average customer rating:

Good, not great.
Incredible!
overly rich nostalgic pieces and particles of the piano

The Piano Album

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Caprices | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Stephen Hough's New Piano Album
Stephen Hough Piano Collection
York Bowen: Piano Music
Karl Czerny: The Art of Finger Dexterity, Op. 740
Stephen Hough's English Piano Album

ASIN: B00000C2KC
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Hexentanz
Chant Polonais No. 1 In G 'Maiden's Wish'
The Crimson Petal
The Fuchsia tree
Capriccio In F Minor, Op. 28 No. 6
Minuet In G, Op. 14 No. 4
Nocturne, In B Flat, Op. 16 No. 4
Etude In A-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 2
Melodie In E
Caprice-Burlesque
My Favorite Things
Kashmiri Song
Music Box
The Swan
Papillons
The Gardens Of Buitenzorg- (From 'Java Suite', Book 3)
Waltz In A, Op. 2
En route, Op. 9
Sicilliano, Op. 42 No. 2
Caprice espagnol, Op. 37

Tracks:

Variations Brillantes Op. 14
The Enchanted Nymph
Der Kontrebandiste
Melody In F
Gargoyles, Op. 29: I. Presto
Gargoyles, Op. 29: II. Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato
Gargoyles, Op. 29: III. Allegro moderato
Gargoyles, Op. 29: IV. Presto feroce
The Musical Snuffbox
The Musical Snuffbox
Etude de style, Op. 40 No. 1 'Agilite'
Till I Wake
Weep You No More
March Of The Siamese Children
Valse mignone
Serenata, Op. 15 No. 1
Bourree (From Violin Sonata No. 2)
Erinnerungen (Triakontameron No. 25)
Adagietto (From 'L'Arlesienne')
Ungarishe Zigeunerweisen

Customer Reviews:

Good, not great........2002-05-22

I got this double cd, since a fellow reviewer of Hamelin's Kaleidoscope said he couldn't fully endorse that disc, since this cd would be so much better. Wrong again, sewer boy!

Thanks to Arthur Schnabel complete recordings of Sonatas, Concertos and Variation Works have become the mainstay of the recorded piano repertoire. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine that this has not always been the case. Yet, just have a look at the complete Rachmaninov recordings on RCA to see that even this giant mostly recorded little trifles, since the record buyers of his time prefered snacks over meals.

This generous and economic double cd contains a compilation of mostly romantic smaller scale works, that Rachmaninov's clientele would have enjoyed. Some are obscure, others e.g. Ljadov's snuff box and Taussig's Gypsy tunes are pretty well known.

Hough-a man from the splendid 1961 vintage, just like Hamelin and your's truly- is a highly accomplished pianist. His playing is good, yet not up to the Hamelin standards. The repertoire, however, started to bore the hell out of me after a while. I admit, that there are true exceptions like the Liebermann Gargoyles, but for me this set was simply too much of a good thing.

The interpretations vary from decent to good. I used to own an lp of the French virtuoso Setrak, that contained both the Ljadov and Taussig mentioned above and believe you me those interpretations dwarfed what we get here.

In conclusion, a generous compilation of smaller scale pianoworks. Good clean piano playing and more than adequate recordings.

Incredible!.......2001-01-12

I am a pianophile and longtime record collector, and this is one of the most awe-inspiring recordings I have ever heard. Stephen Hough's pianism - and I don't mean to be hyperbolic - simply exhausts all adjectives one might try to use to describe it. This is the kind of album to listen to not so much for the music (though these are charming and now-rarely heard pieces) but for the artistry of the performer. For stunning virtuosity, listen to the final measures of the Moszowski piece or to the MacDowell; for rich tone and melting legato listen to Hough's own transcriptions of the two Roger Quilter songs. Out of hundreds of CDs I have heard, this is one of my absolute favorites - and a steal at the price. Stephen Hough is the modern day Cortot, Gieseking, Rachmaninoff, and Joseph Levine, for he has it all - drama, precision, color, intellect, raw strength, and yes - delicacy. I rarely make recommendations like this, but you absolutely must hear this recording.

overly rich nostalgic pieces and particles of the piano.......2001-01-06

This is music that seems to have lapsed into a forgotten time warp, like when you open that old wood truck in the attic to find odd bits and particles,objects,dolls and photographs that immediately transports you into another fantasia place. That's what this music does. Hough has selected for the most part fast filigreed,rapid cascades and ribbons of pieces. Each however has its own narrative,its own special tale to reveal, a special musical texture,an endearing melody. Needless to say most of the composers here are those you've never heard before,like Ignaz Friedman, whose "Music Box" is not what you think, yes it has that timbre of forever moving tickly tones,for a ballerina popping out of a ceramic box. But there is a large pallette of sophistication here as well with the unique timbre of the piano. Every piece does this admirably. The Hexentanz of MacDowell (arr.Liszt) is a helter-skelter piece never stopping,scaling the upper regions of the keyboard,and this would be an encore work. It keeps you on the edge of your upholstered chair.Leoplold Godowsky is not an unfamiliar name,he is a specialist in the art of the arragement trying to capture a timbre, and here in Camille Saint-Saens forever memorable "Swan"the final days of post-romantic Louis Napoleon the Third era is handled with just a few more ripples in the pond than before almost imperceptible.

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 4 (KK 928 -931): Allegro Maestoso
Piano Sonata No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 4 (KK 928 -931): Menuetto. Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 4 (KK 928 -931): Larghetto
Piano Sonata No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 4 (KK 928 -931): Finale. Presto
Piano Sonata No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 35 (KK 570 - 580): Grave - Doppio Movimento
Piano Sonata No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 35 (KK 570 - 580): Scherzo
Piano Sonata No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 35 (KK 570 - 580): Marche funebre. Lento - Attacca
Piano Sonata No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 35 (KK 570 - 580): Finale. Presto
Piano Sonata No. 3 In B Minor, Op. 58 (KK 783 -790): Allegro Maestoso
Piano Sonata No. 3 In B Minor, Op. 58 (KK 783 -790): Scherzo. Molto Vivace
Piano Sonata No. 3 In B Minor, Op. 58 (KK 783 -790): Largo
Piano Sonata No. 3 In B Minor, Op. 58 (KK 783 -790): Finale. Presto, Ma Non Tanto

Tracks:

Introduction And Variations On A German National Air ('Der Schweizerbub') In E Major, Op. Posth. (KK 925- 927)
'Souvenir de Paganini' Variations In A Major, Op. Posth. (KK 1203)
Variations Brillantes On 'Je Vends Des Scapularies' From The Opera 'Ludovic' By F. Herold And F. Halevy In B Flat Major, Op. 12 (KK 178 -180)
Introduction, Theme And Variations On A Theme Of Moore For Piano, Four Hands In D Major, Op. Posth. (KK 1190 - 1192)
Variations No. 6 From The Cycle 'Hexameron' On A Theme From The Opera 'I Puritani' By V. Bellini In E Major (KK 903 - 904): Largo
Allegro De Concert In A Major, Op. 46 (KK 673 - 678)
Bolero In C Major, O. 19 (KK 246 - 249): Introduzione. Allegro molto - Allegro vivace
Tarantella In A Flat Major, Op. 43 (KK 654 - 662): Presto

Average customer rating:

At least 16 / 19 well spent hours
Enlightening but slighly blemished
Chopin - Luisada, Jean-Marc
Chopin - Luisada, Jean-Marc
Learn, learn, learn!

Chopin: Complete Edition
Krystian Zimerman , Claudio Arrau , Stefan Askenase , Anatol Ugorski , Maurizio Pollini , Jean-Marc Luisada , and Zilberstein, Lilya
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bourees | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ecossaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Galops | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Liszt: Piano Works
Bach: Complete Works - 155 CD Box Set
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set)
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Haydn: The Masterworks [Box Set]

ASIN: B00001X58Z
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Amazon.com

On the 150th anniversary of his death, Deutsche Grammophon released this impressive box set featuring the complete works of Frédéric Chopin. Spread out over 17 CDs, it contains some truly big-name artists--Argerich, Pollini, Barenboim, and Ashkenazy--and a few you've probably never heard of. The majority of the set's nine volumes contain some music newly produced for this undertaking, and a few items (Chopin's songs, for instance) were recorded specifically for this collection. A well-illustrated book is included--it contains an essay, dateline, and illustrations--and each volume in the set gets its own liner notes. The music? It varies from great to less than great, but most of it is worth hearing. Those accustomed to Rubinstein's readings of the Mazurkas will find those played by Jean-Marc Luisada less fluid and lacking Rubinstein's power. Chopin's songs, seldom heard and filled with elements of Polish folk dances and the less-than-stellar lyrics of the composer's friend Stefan Witwicki, get a college try here by soprano Elzbieta Szmytka. They sound as good as you'll hear anywhere (if you can find them). It probably goes without saying that Martha Argerich's rousing 26 Préludes are some of the set's more exciting moments. But, really, the entire collection is solid. It should be noted that budget label Naxos has released its own Chopin edition at less than half the price of this set. With Idil Biret as the only performer on that set, you miss out on some of the diverse performances and personalities found here. Also, to please those of us who already own favorite performances of these works, each two-CD volume in the Complete Chopin Edition can be purchased individually. Bravo. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

At least 16 / 19 well spent hours.......2004-10-11

In my opinion there is no more effective way to ruin a great musical performance than to record it in front of an audience who cannot control their coughs. The first disc starts out with a 1979 live recording of Chopin's first piano/orchestra concerto featuring pianist Krystian Zimerman and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. The performance is good, but doesn't allow the listener full concentration,--and therefore not full enjoyment--as a distracting and annoying audience can be heard coughing, sneezing, and clearing their throats even above the orchestra's playing in mezzo forte - it gets worse, of course, at dynamically quieter musical parts. Other distractions, like chairs creaking, cracking and squeaking, pages being turned probably inches away from a microphone (perhaps to give the page-turner a chance to say "Did you hear that? That was me,") and people stomping/dropping things (?) add to the incapability of the listener's full enjoyment. I've heard much worse, however, but considering that the recording technique is no older than 25 years, this is on the verge of being unacceptable. Sure - there can be a certain charm in hearing such "humanity" on a recording, especially when it's older, but I don't think many would disagree that this is a bit too much. Hearing the opening of piano/orchestra concerto no.2, and knowing that the 18+ hours of music to come aren't going to be interrupted by coughs, is a big relief. My favorite Chopin interpreter is--and might always be--Rubinstein; his playing is straight forward, he cuts to the chase quickly, yet somehow manages to leave room for sensitivity and emotion. His performances, of course--since he never recorded a note for Deutsche Grammophon,--are not included in this "complete edition," so aside from suggestions that certain waltzes are missing, that is something that makes this boxed set incomplete for me. Pollini's general interpretation of Chopin is in my opinion, as in many others', quite weak in comparison to Argerich's, Zimerman's, or the passionate playing of Daniel Barenboim. Here Pollini performs Etudes, Scherzos, Sonatas and Polonaises. At times, during the Etudes of op. 10, I feel like I'm getting more Maurizio than I am getting Fryderyk, even though the performance (especially on no.3) may invite feelings of thriving despite the performer's occasional roaring in the left channel. The Scherzos feature some troublesome factors; first and foremost the sound (of this 1990 recording) isn't at all as good as one would expect. It's far worse than several older recordings of this set - at only six seconds into the first Scherzo (op.20) one can't avoid acknowledging obvious distortion - the recording has clearly been done with too much input level. Clips noises continue throughout the grainy and dull sound picture of these pieces. Second of all, the noises Pollini makes while playing can be quite off putting. At times he sounds like a boy with a voice just breaking experiencing climax of coition, and as we all know, Chopin had a prudish aversion to overt sexuality. One reason why Pollini's performance of the Scherzos being called "troublesome" might be harsh, is that musically he handles them ok, and I'd think that's what's essential, but Deutsche Grammophon has made the odd decision of including Pollini's recording of Sonata no. 2, op.35 (a.k.a. "Funeral March") from 1984 in this set, instead of Argerich's recording from 1975. First of all, Argerich's version has clearer sound (at least on the newly refurbished "The Originals" edition...but then again, that was released in 2002,) but second of all, and more importantly, her playing is far more straight forward during the first part of the Sonata (Grave,) whereas Pollini shows too much mercy both for strong dynamics and tempo throughout. Furthermore he's on the verge of playing parts of the March suggesting "lento," as if it read "rubato" (it's a MARCH!) His performance of Piano Sonata no.3 is also a bit lifeless, but the hour long disc of Polonaises recorded 1975 he handles surprisingly well (the occasional phlegmatic karaoke-roars may need a little time getting used to, though.) Several of these interpreters make some less musical noises while playing - Zimerman, for instance, breathes heavily through the nose after each and every completed phrase throughout all off his performances (although it can't be heard with orchestra.) When listening to his solo performances in head phones, the constant snuffling can distract and annoy quite a bit, but I know that I do the exact same thing when I play, myself, so perhaps I shouldn't complain until I've managed to rid the inconvenient problem myself. Besides Pollini's Polonaise interpretations, there's another (76 minute long) disc of Polonaises featuring mainly Ugorski, but also Argerich. Something that seems odd to me is that the sound quality of Argerich's 1974 recording once again is superior to a newer recording - in this case to the 1999 recording of Ugorski, which doesn't feature much middle in the sound picture, but uneven soughing and clip noises! Both their performances (but especially Argerich's,) are about as enjoyable as Chopin interpretations can be, I'd think, as is the technically and musically perfect, touching and mesmerizing Nocturne interpretations of Daniel Barenboim, recorded in 1981 - his playing here equals close to two hours of pure magic. While being a Rubinstein fan, I'm going to have to say that Barenboim's way of playing the Nocturnes is just how I think they should be played; they call for this somewhat gentle touch mixed in with their brutal sincerity, but I suggest for those who (especially) enjoy the Etudes, Sonatas and Scherzos to listen to Rubinstein's recordings of the works (available on RCA's Rubinstein Collection, vol. 26, vol. 45 and vol. 46.) Pollini is, of course, a fine performer, but I'd suggest listening to his interpretations of Prokofiev's and Stravinsky's work instead.
Rubinstein recorded the preludes (op.28) in their entirety only once, in 1946, which means that they aren't available in RCA's collection with preferable sound quality, but on this set Martha Argerich delivers a great performance of the 26 preludes (no.1-24, op.28, plus 25, op.45, and 26, op. 35,) recorded in 1975. One prelude that in my opinion should always be played as slow and gentle as possible is no.15 (a.k.a. "The Raindrop Prelude.") What I'd like to describe as a prefect version of the piece is performed by--despite my having done a lot of research--a, to me unknown performer, but runs at 6:08 minutes. Argerich rushes the whole piece a bit (the drops fall too closely -) the fact that her version runs at 4:51 should say a lot. Of the approximately 20 different performances I've heard of this particular prelude (obviously one of my favorites,) Argerich's is the shortest, and lays somewhere in the swamp among other "medium integral" versions. She delivers exciting performances of the other preludes, though - the first time I heard them, I hit repeat on my CD player, and listened to nothing else for three days.
The Mazurkas, here performed by Jean-Marc Luisada and Lilya Zilberstein, are performed--while beautifully--quite carefully and loosely. For those who'd like a more restrained performance of the pieces, RCA's Rubinstein Collection, vol. 50, is recommended.
Besides all the music for only piano(s,) Chopin also composed 80 minutes worth of chamber music, which here is performed by Beaux Arts Trio, et al. He also wrote 45+ minutes worth of songs, which here is performed by soprano Elzbieta Szmytka and pianist Malcolm Martineau on a 1999 performance. I don't feel qualified to comment on solo singing in Polish, but while I don't care for the occasional close-to-full effect vibrato, I like Martineau's piano playing and the almost folksy melodies and arrangements. This music distinguishes itself by far from the rest of the music in the set. Translations to several languages of the lyrics to the 19 songs are included.
The stereophony on all recordings is great, the overall sound quality on all discs (when considering the years of the recordings) I'd give a 4/5, but still rate the whole package 9/10 - I'd think that some (both older and newer) recordings could have been transferred better, while some sound superior to what you'd dare dream of. This is definitely the best complete edition of Chopin's music available, and perhaps the best collection of works available on disc by any classical composer. A lot of work has been put into the set's design, the sound, and certainly the amount and accuracy of interesting info given in the enclosed illustrated 140 page hard-cover book (of which a fifth is written in English) and in the 40-60 page booklets (also illustrated) included in each volume; practically everything you'll ever need to know about the composer (and these recordings) is included here along with all the music he wrote. Well worthy of your time and money.

Enlightening but slighly blemished.......2004-07-05

I commend DG on producing this comprehensive and thoughtfully packaged/annotated collection of Chopin's output. In it one can appreciate the wondrous manner in which Chopin at once appeased the conservative appetites of the Paris salon set while revolutionizing the genre of piano music in both traditional and more intimate forms.

The greatest virtue of this collection is the opportunity to hear more obscure elements of Chopin's collected ouevre. He wrote some lovely chamber music and wrote highly effective variations with and without orchestra. Among his 17 songs are a few gems.

As for the strength of the performances, some of them are rightly considered definitive. I love Zimerman in the piano concerti, Argerich owns the Op. 28 preludes, and I find in Pollini's scherzos the unbridled energy and interpretive depth required by these challenging pieces. Even if Daniel Barenboim's nocturnes do not set any records, they are well-done and completely satisfying.

I was less enthusiastic about Pollini's readings of the latter 2 piano sonatas, which I find prosaic on the whole. I was equally underwhelmed by Bunin's impromptus, which again betray interpretive rather than technical deficiencies. My greatest disappointment is Jean-Marc Luisada's controversial readings of the mazurkas. An unwieldy rubato rules the day here, and distorts the harmonic language to the point that it sounds like Debussy or Ravel's frequent (and unshakeably French-sounding) evocations of Spain. I much prefer any of the Rubinstein mazurka sets, which are colorful but rhythmically mindful of their namesakes.

Properly supplemented in the more familiar repertory (mazurkas, impromptus, sonatas, in particular), I believe this set is indispensable to anyone who appreciates or seeks a broader understanding of Chopin the composer. I recommend it highly.

Chopin - Luisada, Jean-Marc.......2002-04-14

I am a professional Pianist and Piano-pedagoge trained at the University of Graz and Vienna (Austria).
It seems as often reviewers/critics/listeners have the same opinions: I wonder if it isn't in some cases the old story of the Emperors new clothes - nobody dares to have a different opinion, as they do not want to appear stupid.
Some of the reviewers here, didn't like Luisadas performances of the Mazurkas. I hold the heretical opinion that Jean-Marc Luisadas performances are much better than Rubinsteins (I possess the three different complete Mazurka recordings of Rubinstein). There are few pianists that like Luisada know how to treat the piano as a truly polyphonic instrument, with absolute control of every line, and at the same time being able to emphasise every harmonic detail - giving every chord its differing and appropriate degree of tension. Furthermore he understands how to display the different moods and characters of the music. All these factors make Luisadas performances extremely colourful. Every Mazurka with Luisada is a unique experience.

Ps. Other recordings do occasionally wet the critical appetite: For instance the everywhere highly acclaimed Chopin recordings with Pollini are often musically awful, the Etudes opus 10 nr. 1 and opus 25 nr. 1 are examples. For the complete Etudes, buy Boris Berezovsky's recording for Teldec, it surpasses Pollini by far. Ds.

Chopin - Luisada, Jean-Marc.......2002-04-14

Learn, learn, learn!.......2000-10-16

This box set is a must for any lover of piano music.

DG deserves praise for coming with an excellent set of records as well as presentation of the booklets. It is breathtaking to have the opportunity to really know Chopin so well.

Performers are first rate and speak for themselves, and for the price of 8 CD's you get the whole collection. Yes, you can get in some cases better performances, but overall you can find a better compilation. Naxos has its own, and I am going to exchange it with a friend, problem will be to get mine back!

Tracks:

Introduction And Variations On 'Que Ne Suis-je La Fougere!', Op.26
Introduction And Variations On 'Gentil Housard', Op.27
Introduction And Variations On 'Malbroug', Op.28
No.13 Andante Lento
No.14 Andante Moderato
No.15 Andantino
No.16 Lento Assai
No.17 Allegro Moderato
No.18 Andante
No.19
No.20 Moderato
No.21 Lento
No.22 Andantino
No.23
No.24
Introduction, Theme & Variations
Allegretto

Average customer rating:

A must have for the piano lover and audiophile
One of the best Chopin CDs out there
An old treasure
Great music, great artist, great piano = great enjoyment!
Caution: may break your heart

Malcolm Frager Plays Chopin

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

$7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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ASIN: B000003CXS
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Tracks:

Polonaise, Op. 53 'Heroic' (In A-Flat Major, In As-dur, En La Bemol Majeur)
Andante Spianato And Grande Polonaise, Op. 22 (In E-Flat Major, In Es-dur, En Mi Bemol Majeur)
Variations Brilliantes On An Aria From Ludovic By Herold, Op. 12
Mazurkas, Op.6
Contredanse (In G-Flat Major, In Ges-dur, En Sol Bemol Majeur)
Tarantelle, Op.43 (In A-Flat Major, In As-dur, En La Bemol Majeur)
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Scherzo: Molto Vivace
III. Largo
IV. Finale: Presto Non Tanto

Amazon.com

The late Malcolm Frager was one of America's greatest pianists. He was trained by his teacher Carl Friedberg--pupil of Clara Schumann and friend of Brahms--in the great Romantic tradition. In this superb, wide-range digital recording, Frager plays some of Chopin's best-known music with color and poetic expression. In the opening two Polonaises, Frager handles the virtuosic demands unobtrusively, making beautiful music even out of the glittery difficulties of the Grande Polonaise. The Sonata receives a heroic performance, with touching playing of the long largo. This disc is a wonderful souvenir of a great artist who deserves to be remembered by all pianophiles. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

A must have for the piano lover and audiophile.......2007-03-25

This is certainly one of the finest sounding piano albums I have heard. The quality of the playing and the recording are both of the highest order. Malcom Frager made several other notable recordings, including an RCA Living Stereo recording of the Prokofiev second piano concerto (a favorite of mine). However, I think this is the best sounding of all his recordings. He plays with a fluid romantic style that one does not hear so much today, and it suits the Chopin pieces perfectly. And as others have said, the bass extension on the Bosendorfer piano, and the recording's ability to capture it, is truly extraordinary. I am sure you will have many hours of enjoyment listening to this beautiful CD - I know I have.

One of the best Chopin CDs out there.......2006-08-03

I first heard the first six tracks on a Telarc LP(remember those?), and was transfixed. When the CD came out and had the B-minor sonata added it got even better. The tonal quality of the piano has no peer and the performance by Mr. Frager is touching. A treasure for any Chopin enthusiast.

An old treasure.......2006-05-26

In the late seventies this album became an authentic breakthrough, not only the prodigious acoustic range; besides deserved all the honors for Malcom Frager. The impressive expansiveness of this sumptuous piano, joined to his musical skills made of this album a true legend status.

For Chopin' s purists perhaps there had been some repairs t make. But if you are looking for a thunderous Chopin, go for this.

Great music, great artist, great piano = great enjoyment!.......2006-01-07

Malcolm Frager is one of my favorite pianists and he died far too young. Born in 1935, he began studies at the age of six and by ten he had premiered with the St. Louis Symphony. He was awarded the Leventritt in 1959. This is a special recognition because the Leventritt was not a contest. The judges were unannounced and they examined young artists in their regular performances. They did not make awards every year and it has since been disbanded. It was an award of special merit and they got it right with Frager. He had great facility, but also tremendous artistic sensibility and a special intelligence. In addition to his great performance artistry, he was also a renowned scholar and made important discoveries of the original manuscript of the Schumann piano concerto and a collection of manuscripts of 18th and 19th century artists that were presumed lost in World War II. We miss him very much. Sadly, he died of cancer in 1991.

The first six tracks of this wonderful disk were previously released. With them is a very fine recording of the monumental Sonata in B-minor Opus 58. Every track is a delight and you will want to hear them. His playing is free and clear. There are no tricks or mannerisms in order to appeal to the popular audience. This is gloriously pure playing of Chopin that goes at both the heart and the mind.

His piano is the co-star of this album. It was recorded in 1978 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Bösendorfer piano. This is considered one of the elite pianos and has its fans. Some call it their imperial grand the Rolls Royce of pianos. They are still hand made in Vienna in small quantities. Yes, they are very expensive. But if you need to ask ...

The disk opens with the ever popular and wonderful Heroic Polonaise in A-flat major Opus 53. The Andante Spianato & Grand Polonaise, and the opus 12 Variations Brillantes follow. He then plays the Mazuraks Opus 6, a Contredanse, the Opus 43 Tarantelle, and then the previously mentioned B-minor Sonata. All wonderful stuff.

This is a disk you will enjoy listening too many times.

Caution: may break your heart.......2005-01-14

This gorgeous recording, sadly one of the few made by Frager, illustrates why a musician friend of mine says that it's impossible to make a bad sound on the Boesendorfer. Each of Frager's interpretations is definitive, and the quality of the sound will take your breath away. When I first heard the deep bass of the Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise the floor was fairly shaking. What a difference an extra octave of bass keys makes! The first time I heard Frager's rendition of the Sonata Op. 58 I was reduced to tears.

Average customer rating:

Obscure Chopin at a great price
INTIMATE CHOPIN!!!
INTIMATE CHOPIN!!!

Chopin: Rondos and Variations

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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Chopin: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 15
Chopin: Scherzi and Impromptus; Allegro de concert

ASIN: B00001YVCS
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

Rondo, Op.1
Rondo A La Mazurka, Op.5
Rondo, Op.16
Rondo, Op.73
Mazurka in G, BI 16
Mazurka in B flat, BI 16
Mazurka in B flat, BI 73
Mazurka in C, BI 82
Mazurka in A flat, BI 7
Mazurka in D, BI 4
Vars Brillantes, Op.12
Vars On A German Air
Vars On A March From Bellini's I Puritani
Vars 'Souvenir De Paganini'
Vars in D - Idil Biret/Martin Sauer

Customer Reviews:

Obscure Chopin at a great price.......2007-03-26

Volume 11 in Idil Biret's massive survey of Chopin's music contains virtually obscure if not unknown Chopin music. While the Rondos may have a small place in the repertoire, the BI Mazurka's and the Variations (with the exception of the Hexameron and Souvenir de Paganini) are almost never recorded. Since Chopin's oeuvre is a compact sea of pearls, it's understandable why these lesser pieces have been relegated to obscurity. For the Chopinite's out there, though, this recording is invaluable for offering such sumptuous rarities like the Rondo Op. 73 and the Variations in D major for two pianos.

The four Rondo's featured here cover a wide range of emotions and exhibit Chopin's florid piano style. Always astonishing to my ears, the Rondo Op. 1, written when Chopin was 15, is a wonderful salon piece. The tuneful filigree of the Rondo theme and the beautiful tenderness in one of the episodes makes this work quite significant. Chopin's Op. 5 Rondo a la Mazurka is also an entertaining romp: capricious melodies and lavish dance rhythms, with a shade of intensity, are the main characteristics. More serious in mood, the Rondo Op. 16 showcases Chopin's inexhaustible pool of original themes and episodes. Without a doubt, the work conveys all the drama and exquisite beauty we can expect from the master. Moving into more pyrotechnical grounds, the Rondo Op. 73 demonstrates Chopin's success with virtuosic works. His unlimited supply of substantial ideas seem poured into every bar. Listen to the breathtaking coda, a surging 'perpetuum mobile' played to perfection by Idil Biret. For those who have already heard these Rondos, I recommend Biret for her masterful approach and comprehension of the music. Her passion and technique is never abated, and her phrasing is always agreeable.

Less notable, but certainly no less important, are the six BI Mazurka's that make up the center of this recording. Chopin's miniature dances that comprise the Mazurkas are considered to be miraculous gems. However, these six posthumous published Mazurkas are not Chopin at his best. The two Mazurkas in B flat major are the most endearing of the six, I think. Their delightful tunes are sometimes difficult to extinguish from memory; I've found myself humming them many times. While the D major Mazurka is also fascinating, the rest are rather unmemorable. Despite this, I think the fact that these trifles are from the pen of Chopin makes them worth considering.

The next large chunk of neglected pieces are the Variations. And this is where Biret and this particular recording shine, along with the four Rondos. In the Variations brillantes Op. 12 on Herold's Ludovico opera, Chopin brandishes some excellent ideas. There are periods of quiet repose, frisky thoughts, and angelic melancholy. Chopin's predilection for contrasting moods is easily seen in the Variations on 'Der Schweizerbub,' where the addition of Chopin's usual ornamentation and splurges of bel canto-inspired melody enhances the work's appeal. Chopin's contribution to the Hexameron variations involves a lush nocturne-like treatment of the Bellini march theme from Il Puritains. I prefer to hear it in the context of the entire work, but it's a nice lyrical piece regardless. Chopin's Variations, the 'Souvenir de Paganini' is similarly evocative in a quiet and melodious way. Lastly, with the help of pianist Martin Sauer, Idil Biret records Chopin's Variations in D major for two pianos. Chopin's wealth of original material and achingly beautiful music is abundant; the fourth Variation, in particular, is stunning for the emotional yearning the music expresses. Altogether, these Theme and Variations of Chopin are outstanding and unjustly forgotten.

Bottom line: Idil Biret continues to impress me with her enthusiasm, poise, and careful readings of Chopin. She has occasionally lost her edge in some of these Naxos volumes, notably in the Ballades and Scherzi, but her tremendous efforts in this recording are remarkable.

INTIMATE CHOPIN!!!.......2001-09-24

This is just exquisite Chopin.I have never heard anyone play the piano like this!i have heard that Chopin's contribution is unique in that he made the piano SING!i have listened to some great pianists like rubinstein,Perahia,Ashkenazy.they all sound grand,magnificient.where is the SONG?here ms biret demonstrates the singing of the piano like no other pianist has done.
i just put this CD on my player and was attending to my usual chores.i could notice that this piano sounded different but 5 minutes into the first rondo i had to dump everything and just listen to the beautiful playing full of tenderness and longing.
quite the same with the pieces that followed .JUST HEAVENLY!
Ms Biret has a deep insight for Chopins works as is evident from her excellent notes in the CD Sleeve.She clearly explains how chopin's Piano works are different from Liszt's and requires a different approach.Liszt's piano represents an ORCHESTRA whereas Chopin's piano represents a human voice and hence much more intimate.accordingly she says she has toned down the sonority of the piano to facilitate legato playing!SHE HAS EXECUTED THIS PERFECTLY!
other great pianists have given us their wonderful recordings BUT Ms BIRET HAS BROUGHT CHOPIN TO MY DRAWING ROOM!
Just a note of caution to learned listeners.you may have your favourite versions of Chopin.DON"T MISS THIS ONE!DO NOT STOP WITH THE FIRST LISTENING!GIVE IT MORE TIME.YOU WILL BE RICHLY REWARDED!

INTIMATE CHOPIN!!!.......2001-09-24

Otto Nicolai: Overtures; Norma Variations; Funeral March

Average customer rating:

Otto Nicolai: Overtures; Norma Variations; Funeral March

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DFF0
Release Date: 2000-07-10

Tracks:

The Merry Wives Of Windsor: Ov
The Templar: Ov
The Teturn Of The Exile: Ov
Fant And Brilliant Vars On A Theme Of 'Norma'
Funeral March
Church Festival Ov: 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott'

Music:

Music

music