Chopin: Favourite Chopin

On this CD:

1. Ballade for piano No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 47, CT 4 (Four Ballades)
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

2. Prelude for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 45, CT 190
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

3. Waltz for piano in D flat major ("Minute"), Op. 64/1, CT 212
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

4. Waltz for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 64/2, CT 213
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

5. Etude for piano in C minor ("Revolutionary"), Op. 10/12, CT 25
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

6. Etude for piano in G flat major, Op. 10/5, CT 18
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

7. Nocturne for piano in F minor, Op. 55/1, CT 122
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

8. Polonaise for piano in A major, Op. 40/1, CT 152
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

9. Barcarolle for piano in F sharp major, Op. 60, CT 6
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

10. Prelude for piano No. 15 in D flat major, Op. 28/15, CT 180
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

11. Etude for piano in A minor, Op, 25/11, CT 36
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

12. Etude for piano in E major, Op. 10/3, CT 16
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

13. Scherzo for piano No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39, CT 199
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy

Tracks:

Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467 (Elvira Madigan): 1. Allegro
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467 (Elvira Madigan): Andante
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467 (Elvira Madigan): Allegro vivace assai
Concerto No. 2 In F Minor, Op. 21: Maestoso
Concerto No. 2 In F Minor, Op. 21: Larghetto
Concerto No. 2 In F Minor, Op. 21: Allegro vivace
Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: Allegro maestoso - Liszt
Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: Quasi adagio - Liszt
Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: Allegretto vivace - Allegro animato
Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: Allegro marziale animato - Liszt

Tracks:

Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 < >: Allegro
Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 < >: Adagio un poco mosso
Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 < >: Rondo. Allegro
Concerto symphonique No. 4, Op. 102: Scherzo
Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Moderato
Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Adagio sostenuto
Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Allegro scherzando

Customer Reviews:

RUN - not walk - to pick this up!!.......2006-10-30

I purchased this CD set on eBay for less than $2 some time ago. Reviews here on Amazon are usually written by people who buy the CD from Amazon, but this set has brought me so much pleasure that I am obliged to - nay, MUST - write a review here to spread the word. :)

I have been a classical aficionado for the last 6 years or so, and have to date accumulated a collection of >150 classical CDs. Artistic merit aside, I am picky about recorded quality; most of my listening is done through headphones (AKG k501), so poor sound quality in a CD is a big no-no for me.

I'll get sound quality out of the way first then - the SQ on this set varies from good to excellent. Sometimes the miking may come across as a little too warm (Rachmaninov) or a wee bit hollow sounding (Chopin), but there is nothing major to complain about here. There is a spot of easily noticed distortion in the first 10 seconds of the Emperor (more on that later).

I originally purchased this set for just one performance in particular - Clara Haskil's Chopin #2. This particular performance has been out of print for some time and was last available as part of an exorbitantly priced set (Clara Haskil: Legacy) that is now impossible to find.

In a nutshell, Haskil's performance alone is worth the full price of the entire set. The playing in the 2nd movement is absolutely magical - Haskil interprets Chopin with a delicacy and refinement that is difficult to put into words. Her playing brings to mind something my old piano teacher once told me - "Anyone can play Chopin, but few can play Chopin well". The way the solo melodic line is strung together at ~41 seconds into the 2nd movement will send shivers down your spine. Beauty too rich for use / for earth too dear, indeed.

But wait - there's more!

Imagine my surprise when another of the performances in this set turned out to be a 'sleeper hit': Brendel's Beethoven #5 ("Emperor"). I quickly grew to prefer Brendel's Emperor over my 'reference' recording - Pollini with Abbado (part of a very expensive DG 3CD set!). Brendel plays with more emotion and warmth - his Emperor comes off as truly majestic when compared to Abbado, who comes off as a little more magisterial and cold. There is a spot of piano clatter about 10 seconds into the first movement, but it is nothing major and certainly does not detract from the beautiful playing that follows.

Unfortunately Brendel's Elvira Madigan comes across as faaaaar tooooo slooooowwwww (for my taste). The playing is mannered, and there is none of the wiry elegance that should (in my opinion) characterise interpretations of music written during the Classical period. I much prefer my Pires with Abbado on DG for this concerto.

Janis's Rachmaninov #2 is worth a mention as well. Tape hiss on this recording is noticeable on headphones, but not overly prominent. There are few options for the Rach 2nd nowadays - Ashkenazy's warhorse is the usual (and nearly unanimous) recommendation.

Byron Janis was (in?)famous due to his being one of Vladimir Horowitz's two 'officially' recognised pupils, yet I find little Horowitz in this interpretation. There is none of the bravado and bold impulsiveness that characterised Horowitz's earlier work, no awkward mannerisms that characterised his middle work and none of the introspectiveness and coolness that characterised his late work.

What you will get instead is a well-measured and 'polite' Rach #2 with rather melancholy overtones, I find. Certainly a viable alternative to the Ashkenazy mentioned earlier, but a choice subject to personal taste. I prefer my own copy on Naxos by Jando.

I am not familiar with the Litolff and the Liszt, so I shall reserve comment on their respective readings. They are both well recorded though - warm and expansive.

From the sublime to the merely good........2006-04-27

This collection is an absolute steal. Three of the concerto recordings are unsurpassed. The Haskil Chopin is legendary, Richter's Liszt is colossal and Janis's Rachmaninoff is absolutely formidable. Brendel's recordings of Mozart and Beethoven are on a lesser level of achievement, but never less than good.

It should be noted that the Liszt and Rachmaninoff are Mercury Living Presence recordings, and if you've never heard a recording with only 3 well-placed mics, they do sound different from the usual 25-plus microphone recordings we are usually blessed (cursed) with.

At this price, one of the absolute CD bargains of all time.

Meh..........2006-03-28

This collection serves as a descent introduction to some great piano concertos, but the performances are not the best and the recording quality of most of them leaves much to be desired for me. I learned my lesson with regards to the 'best of' classical collections. Personally I'd rather have gotten great recordings of great performances of great classical pieces for a little more money.

In spite of..........2005-06-21

The problem with a heterogeneous collection like this one is that you may like some of the concertos, but not all. I have never found any better recording of Chopin's 2nd concerto than the one with Haskil/Markevitch, so this alone is worth the price, hence my five stars - only for that one! Brendel on Mozart's 21st is also one of many nice accounts. The others are not good enough, if you ask me. Chopin's 2nd by Haskil/Markevitch carries the stars; it is pure magic!

Great Piano Concerto Collection.......2003-07-03

Back in the days before I became a serious collector of classical music, I had this title. What a wonderful introduction it was for me, and if all you are looking for is some first rate performances of some of the best loved Piano Concertos ever written, then this disc is for you. Of course, I no longer own this CD, but I still have all of the individual performances (save the Litolff by Dichter/Marriner) on more comprehensive collections -- the Mozart on the Philips Duo of the "Great Mozart Piano Concertos" featuring Brendel and Marriner, the Chopin on the now o.o.p. Clara Haskil Legacy Vol. 2, the Liszt on a recently reissued Philips 50 title, the Beethoven on the new 3CD Universal Trio collection, and the Rach 2 on good old Mercury Living Presence -- and they are still among my favorites. If you buy this set, just be prepared to upgrade like I did.

Average customer rating:

Perlman is one of the best in history

My Favourite Kreisler

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Fritz Kreisler Plays Kreisler
The Kreisler Album

ASIN: B000002ROD
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Caprice viennois, Op.2
Schon Rosmarin
Slavonic Dance In E Minor, Op.46 No.2: Slavonic Dance In E Minor
Romance, Op.4
Gypsy Melodies: Op. 55 No. 4: Songs My Mother Taught Me
Moto perpetuo, Op.11: Moto perpetuo
Tempo di Minuetto (In The Style Of Pugnani)
Fugue In A Major
Caprice: La Chasse (In The Style Of Cartier)
Preghiera (In The Style Of Martini)
Daisies, Op.38 No.3: Marguerite
Liebesleid
Melodie
Viennese Melody
Mazurka In A Minor, Op.67 No.4 Posth.: Mazurka In A Minor
Liebesfreud

Customer Reviews:

Perlman is one of the best in history.......2002-12-21

Kreisler's violin pieces are generally short but difficult to play well. But Perlman has made them look easy.

Average customer rating:

Vladimir Ashkenazy: Favourite Chopin

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000041OW
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Average customer rating:

Chopin: Piano Works

Chopin: Favourite Chopin Piano Works

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | 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
ASIN: B00000420R
Release Date: 1993-01-19

Tracks:

Polonaise In A Major ,Op. 40 No.1
Prelude In D Flat Major, Op. 28 No. 15: 'Raindrop'
Waltz In D. Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 1: 'Minute'
Ballade No.3 In A Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 2
Nocturne In D Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 2
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: 'Revolutionary'
Waltz In C Sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2
Berceuse In D Flat Major Op. 57
Etude In G Flat Major Op. 10 No. 5: 'Black Keys'
Nocturne In F Minor Op. 55 No. 1
Mazurka In B Flat Major No. 7 No. 1: Mazurka In B Flat Major No. 7 No. 1*
Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31
Waltz In A Minor, Op. 34 No. 2*
Polonaise In A Flat Major, Op. 53*

Tracks:

Waltz In E Flat Major, Op. 18': Grande valse brillante
Fantaisie-impromptu In C Sharp Minor, Op.66
Barcarolle In F Sharp Major, Op. 60
Etude In E Major, Op. 10, No. 3: 'Tristesse'
Mazurka In D Major, Op. 33, No. 2
Nocturne In B Major, Op. 32, No. 1
Waltz In A Flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1: 'L'Adieu'
Nocturne In E Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2
Waltz In G Flat Major, Op. 70 No. 1
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

Customer Reviews:

Chopin: Piano Works.......2006-03-09

I absolutely loved the content (musical selections) chosen for this CD. I even love the photo graphic used for the cover. It is refreshing to see what I consider an atypically relaxed and casual view of a renowned pianist.

CHOPIN: Favourite Noctures / Kathryn Stott

Average customer rating:

CHOPIN: Favourite Noctures / Kathryn Stott

Manufacturer: Regis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002JA86K
Release Date: 2004-06-30

Album Description

FRYDERYC CHOPIN (1810-1849)

Favourite Nocturnes
Fantasie-Impromptu; Barcarolle

Kathryn Stott, piano

Including:
Nocturnes: Op. 9 No.2; Op. 15 No.1; Op. 15. No. 2;
Op. 27 No.1; Op. 27 No.2; Op. 32 No. 1; Op. 48 No. 1;
Op. 55 No. 1; Op. 55 No. 2; Op. 62 No. 2; Op. 72 No. 1;
Op. Posth. in C sharp minor;
Fantasie-Impromptu Op. 66; Barcarolle

Average customer rating:

Chopin- Favourite Piano Pieces

Manufacturer: Universal-Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B000KI8X38

Product Description

18 tracks

Average customer rating:

Warsaw Concerto

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000030ZA
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

Viennese Waltz Medley-Part I: Intro: Blue Danube-Vienna Blood-Gipsy Baron/Part 2: Intro:...
Pno Sel, Part 2: Budapest
Liszt In Rhythm
Chopinezza
Favourite Waltzes: Intro: Destiny/Merry Widow/Just One Girl/I'll See You Again
Nola
Parade Of The Tin Soldiers
'Carmen' Vars
Spanish Dances
Liebestraum No.3
'Sleeping Beauty' Waltz
Humoresque No.7
Rustle Of Spring
Troika
'Chopin Sel'-Part 2: Intro: Waltz in d Fla (Minte Waltz, Op.64 No.1)-Study in c (Revolutionalary...
Warsaw Con-Parts 1 & 2
Slavonic Dances No.1, Op.46
Slavonic Dances No.8, Op.46
Ste Espagnola No.3
Ste Espagnole No.6: A) Sevilla/B) Castilla
'Fledermaus Fant
Rhap in Blue